### **Format** **Pool Draw** **2.1** With the exception of the 2025 Investec Champions Cup winner, the Gallagher Premiership winner, the TOP 14 winner and the United Rugby Championship winner, who were kept apart to ensure that they would not play one another in the pool stage, the clubs were entered into an open draw based on their performances in the knockout phases of their respective leagues, and/or on their qualifying positions in their respective league tables. **2.2** The 24 clubs (eight from each league) were then drawn and/or allocated to one of four pools of six – Pool 1 to Pool 4. A maximum of two clubs from each league were drawn into each pool and clubs from the same URC Shield could not be drawn into the same pool. **2.3** For the purposes of creating the fixtures, clubs from the same league **cannot** play against one another, and clubs only play against other clubs in the **same** pool on a home **or** away basis (so that they play two of their opponents at home, and another two away). **Pool Stage** **2.4** Clubs will play four matches during the pool stage, each against a different opponent, two matches at home and two matches away. **2.5** Four match points will be awarded for a win, two match points will be awarded for a draw. A bonus point will be awarded to a club scoring four or more tries and to a club losing by seven points or fewer. If two or more clubs in the same pool are equal on match points, their ranking will be determined as follows: (i) the best aggregate points difference from the pool stage; or (ii) if equal, the number of tries scored in the pool stage; or (iii) if equal, by drawing lots. **Round of 16** **2.6** The four highest-ranked clubs in each pool will qualify for the Round of 16. All clubs will thereafter be ranked in descending order based firstly on their ranking in their pool and subsequently on the number of match points they have accumulated, to create an overall ranking from 1 to 16. The pool winners will be ranked 1 to 4, the second-placed clubs will be ranked 5 to 8, the third-placed clubs will be ranked 9 to 12, and the fourth-placed clubs will be ranked 13 to 16. The Round of 16 will thereafter be played over one match as follows: **R16 1**: Number 1-ranked club v Number 16-ranked club
**R16 2**: Number 2-ranked club v Number 15-ranked club
**R16 3**: Number 3-ranked club v Number 14-ranked club
**R16 4**: Number 4-ranked club v Number 13-ranked club
**R16 5**: Number 5-ranked club v Number 12-ranked club
**R16 6**: Number 6-ranked club v Number 11-ranked club
**R16 7**: Number 7-ranked club v Number 10-ranked club
**R16 8**: Number 8-ranked club v Number 9-ranked club ***NB*** *The clubs ranked numbers 1 to 8 will have home advantage in the Round of 16.* The clubs ranked fifth in each of the pools will qualify for the Round of 16 of the EPCR Challenge Cup. **Quarter-finals** **2.7** The quarter-finals will be played over one match with the following pairings: **QF 1**: Winner R16 1 v Winner R16 8
**QF 2**: Winner R16 2 v Winner R16 7
**QF 3**: Winner R16 3 v Winner R16 6
**QF 4**: Winner R16 4 v Winner R16 5 The highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home venue advantage. **Semi-finals** **2.8** The semi-finals will be played in Europe with the following pairings: **SF 1**: Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 4 **SF 2**: Winner QF 2 v Winner QF 3 The highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home country advantage. **Final** **2.9** The 2026 final will be played at San Mamés, Bilbao on Saturday 23 May. ***NB*** *In the event of drawn matches at the end of normal time during the knockout stage, extra-time will be played. If the scores remain tied at the end of extra time, the winner will be determined as follows:* *(a) the club that has scored the most tries in the match (including extra time) or* *(b) if equal, by a place kick competition.*