Northampton and Bath will compete in the 2026-27 Champions Cup's most challenging pool, having been drawn together alongside three teams that reached continental finals: the Bulls from South Africa, who lost June's United Rugby Championship final, and Montpellier, runners-up in France's Top 14. Pool Four is completed by Cardiff, the highest-ranked Welsh side in European competition, and Stade Francais, who advanced to the Top 14 semi-finals. The pairing presents both English clubs with an unusually difficult path through the group stage.

Bristol will encounter defending champions Bordeaux-Begles in Pool Three, while Leinster, Toulouse (winners of four consecutive French titles), and other leading European sides populate the remaining pools. Teams play four pool-stage matches against opponents from outside their domestic league, with the top three finishers from each pool advancing to the knockout phase. The tournament opens in mid-October 2026 and concludes with the finals weekend in Lyon the following May.