Northampton and Bath will share Pool Four in the 2026-27 Champions Cup, where they are set to face a difficult route involving Montpellier, the Bulls, Stade Francais and Cardiff. The draw gives both English sides a demanding pool before the fixture schedule is confirmed.
The pool includes recent finalists from other major competitions: the Bulls were beaten by Leinster in the United Rugby Championship final, while Montpellier lost to Toulouse in the Top 14 final. Stade Francais and Cardiff add further depth to a group that looks balanced and potentially unforgiving.
Elsewhere in the Champions Cup, Leinster, Glasgow, Pau, Sale Sharks, Leicester and Clermont make up Pool One. Pool Two includes Toulouse, Lions, Saracens, La Rochelle, Exeter Chiefs and Connacht, while Pool Three brings together Bordeaux Begles, Stormers, Racing 92, Munster, Bristol Bears and Gloucester.
The competition format means each Champions Cup team plays four pool matches against sides from outside its domestic league. The top three in each pool reach the knockouts, while a top-two finish secures home advantage in the last 16. The pool stages are due to begin on the weekend of 16-18 October, with finals weekend scheduled for Lyon in May.
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