Bath face gruelling Loftus Versfeld trip as Champions Cup pool fixtures land

Bath Rugby have been handed one of the toughest pool schedules in the 2026/27 Investec Champions Cup, with EPCR confirming fixtures that include a long-haul trip to face the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday, 9 January — immediately after the festive-period congestion of the Premiership calendar.

The journey to South Africa, which involves a flight of more than ten hours, is widely regarded as one of the most logistically demanding assignments in the competition. Johann van Graan’s side will face his former club in their own fortress, a ground that has proved formidable for visiting European teams. Before that trip, Bath host Challenge Cup winners Montpellier and travel to Cardiff, before rounding off the pool stage with a home fixture against a resurgent Stade Français.

Reigning champions Bordeaux-Bèglès, who eliminated Bath at the semi-final stage last season, begin their title defence away at Gloucester on Friday, 16 October. The French side have been placed in Pool 3 alongside DHL Stormers, Racing 92, Munster, Bristol Bears, and Gloucester.

URC champions and last season’s runners-up Leinster open their bid for a fifth European title in France, travelling to ASM Clermont Auvergne in round one before hosting Sale Sharks — a rematch of last season’s quarter-final — in round two. Their pool also includes Section Paloise, whom they have not faced since 1996, and Leicester Tigers.

Premiership champions Northampton Saints begin at home to Cardiff before back-to-back fixtures in France against Stade Français and Montpellier, closing out the pool phase under the Friday night lights at Franklin’s Gardens against the Bulls.

Toulouse, chasing a seventh European title and a first since 2024, open at home to Exeter Chiefs. The French giants then travel to Johannesburg to face the Lions, cross to Connacht in the west of Ireland, and welcome Saracens to the Stade Ernest Wallon in round four.

2026/27 Investec Champions Cup Pools

Pool 1: Leinster, Glasgow Warriors, Section Paloise, Sale Sharks, Leicester Tigers, ASM Clermont Auvergne

Pool 2: Stade Toulousain, Lions, Saracens, Stade Rochelais, Exeter Chiefs, Connacht

Pool 3: Union Bordeaux-Bèglès, DHL Stormers, Racing 92, Munster, Bristol Bears, Gloucester

Pool 4: Northampton Saints, Bath, Cardiff, Montpellier, Stade Français, Vodacom Bulls

Key dates: Pool rounds run across October 2026 and January 2027, with the Round of 16 on 2–4 April 2027, quarter-finals on 9–11 April, semi-finals on 30 April–2 May, and the final on 22 May 2027.