Challenge Cup holders Bath Rugby have learned their opponents for the 2025/26 Investec Champions Cup as they aim to claim Europe’s top prize under coach Johann van Graan. After an extraordinary previous season marked by a treble of trophies, Bath enter the Champions Cup with unwavering ambition.
Having secured the Gallagher Premiership title in 2024/25, Bath entered the pool stage draw as one of the top seeds. This seeding allows them to avoid facing other reigning champions such as Champions Cup winners Bordeaux Bègles, French Top 14 champions Toulouse, and United Rugby Championship (URC) holders Leinster in the early rounds.
The competition features 24 clubs from the TOP 14, Gallagher Premiership, and URC, divided into four pools of six teams. Each pool contains two clubs from each league, and the format ensures no matches between clubs from the same domestic competition during the pool stage. Each team will play four matches against clubs from different leagues, either home or away.
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Bath have been drawn into Pool 2 alongside French powerhouse Toulon, Johann van Graan’s former club Munster—whom Bath will also face in pre-season—Castres Olympique, and Edinburgh Rugby, whom Bath defeated in last season’s Challenge Cup semi-final. Gloucester Rugby is also in Pool 2, but the two West Country rivals will not meet due to competition rules preventing intra-league clashes at this stage.
Exact fixtures and dates for Bath’s European campaign will be announced soon, with matches kicking off in December 2025. Premier Sports will once again be the primary broadcaster of the competition.
Key 2025/26 Champions Cup dates include:
- Round 1: 5-7 December 2025
- Round 2: 12-14 December 2025
- Round 3: 9-11 January 2026
- Round 4: 16-18 January 2026
- Round of 16: 3-5 April 2026
- Quarter-finals: 10-12 April 2026
- Semi-finals: 1-3 May 2026
Bath Rugby’s path to European glory is clearly mapped out, and fans can look forward to a thrilling campaign as the club chases more historic success.