{"209":{"title":"Six Nations","uri":"six-nations","id":"108","oid":"209","order":0,"hasData":1},"210":{"title":"Rugby World Cup","uri":"rugby-world-cup","id":"111","oid":"210","order":1,"hasData":1},"3":{"title":"International","uri":"internationals","id":"107","oid":"3","order":3,"hasData":1},"201":{"title":"Gallagher Premiership","uri":"premiership","id":"101","oid":"201","order":4,"hasData":1},"204":{"title":"United Rugby Championship","uri":"united-rugby-championship","id":"138","oid":"204","order":5,"hasData":1},"203":{"title":"TOP 14","uri":"top-14","id":"102","oid":"203","order":6,"hasData":1},"217":{"title":"U20 Six Nations","uri":"u20-six-nations","id":"217","oid":"217","order":7,"hasData":1},"211":{"title":"Pro D2","uri":"pro-d2","id":"119","oid":"211","order":8,"hasData":1},"208":{"title":"Bunnings NPC","uri":"bunnings-npc","id":"105","oid":"208","order":9,"hasData":1},"242":{"title":"Investec Champions Cup","uri":"european-champions-cup","id":"110","oid":"242","order":10,"hasData":1},"243":{"title":"Challenge Cup","uri":"challenge-cup","id":"118","oid":"243","order":11,"hasData":1},"340":{"title":"PWR","uri":"premiership-womens-rugby","id":"127","oid":"340","order":12,"hasData":1},"205":{"title":"Super Rugby Pacific","uri":"super-rugby","id":"104","oid":"205","order":13,"hasData":1},"207":{"title":"Currie Cup","uri":"currie-cup","id":"106","oid":"207","order":14,"hasData":1},"248":{"title":"Women's Six Nations","uri":"womens-six-nations","id":"125","oid":"248","order":16,"hasData":1},"274":{"title":"Women's Internationals","uri":"womens-internationals","id":"274","oid":"274","order":17,"hasData":1},"249":{"title":"Women's Rugby World Cup","uri":"womens-rugby-world-cup","id":"126","oid":"249","order":18,"hasData":1},"365":{"title":"Autumn Nations Series","uri":"autumn-nations-series","id":"124","oid":"365","order":19,"hasData":1},"2000":{"title":"Nations Championship","uri":"nations-championship","id":"2000","oid":"2000","order":20,"hasData":1},"1":{"title":"Rugby Hybrid Friendlies","uri":"rugby-hybrid-friendlies","id":"1","oid":"1","order":21,"hasData":1},"269":{"title":"Rugby Europe Championship","uri":"rugby-europe-championship","id":"269","oid":"269","order":22,"hasData":1},"221":{"title":"British & Irish Lions 2025","uri":"british-irish-lions","id":"113","oid":"221","order":23,"hasData":1},"214":{"title":"The Rugby Championship","uri":"the-rugby-championship","id":"109","oid":"214","order":24,"hasData":1},"141":{"title":"Super Rugby Pacific","uri":"super-rugby-pacific","id":"141","oid":"141","order":25,"hasData":1},"216":{"title":"World Rugby Junior World Championship","uri":"world-rugby-u20-championship","id":"216","oid":"216","order":25,"hasData":1},"219":{"title":"Pacific Nations Cup","uri":"pacific-nations-cup","id":"219","oid":"219","order":26,"hasData":1},"120":{"title":"Pacific Four Series","uri":"pacific-four-series","id":"120","oid":"120","order":27,"hasData":1},"862":{"title":"WXV 1","uri":"wxv-1","id":"862","oid":"862","order":29,"hasData":1},"863":{"title":"WXV 2","uri":"wxv-2","id":"863","oid":"863","order":30,"hasData":1},"864":{"title":"WXV 3","uri":"wxv-3","id":"864","oid":"864","order":31,"hasData":1},"151":{"title":"Major League Rugby","uri":"major-league-rugby","id":"131","oid":"151","order":32,"hasData":1},"116":{"title":"Premiership Cup","uri":"premiership-cup","id":"116","oid":"116","order":34,"hasData":1}}
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Early kick-off for Champions Cup announced

By @rugby365com
Friday 27 Feb 2026

NEWS: The 2026/27 Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup will get underway earlier than usual, with the opening round scheduled for October 16–18 before the November international window, and will culminate in a showpiece finals weekend in Lyon next May.

Unlike this season, which began in early December, the revised calendar means there will be an eight-week gap between Rounds One and Two, with the second round only resuming in December.

Tournament organisers EPCR have opted to retain the Round of 16 despite criticism that the current format makes it too easy to progress from the shortened four-round pool phase.

There will again be just a one-week turnaround between the Round of 16 and the quarterfinals, a scheduling squeeze that has previously created logistical and ticketing challenges for clubs.

The finals will be staged at Lyon’s 59,186-seat OL Stadium, returning to the venue that hosted the 2016 deciders. On that occasion, Saracens defeated Racing 92 21-9 to secure the first of their three Champions Cup titles, while Montpellier edged Harlequins 26-19 to lift the Challenge Cup.

EPCR CEO Jacques Raynaud confirmed the key dates, noting that the competitions’ return to an October start mirrors the pre-COVID calendar and was unanimously supported by the three leagues. He added that integrating the tournaments into the early part of the club season is seen as a positive step for supporters and commercial partners.

“We are excited to see the opening round of the pool stage return to the pre-Covid October slot, a recommendation put forward by EPCR and unanimously agreed by the three leagues [French Top 14, English Premiership and URC], with EPCR competitions part of the club rugby dynamic from the start of the season in a move that is welcomed by fans and commercial partners alike,” Raynaud said.

The pool draws for both competitions will take place on July 1, 2026.

2026/27 Champions Cup/Challenge Cup key dates:

Round 1 –  October 16/17/18, 2026
Round 2 –  December 11/12/13, 2026
Round 3 –  January 8/9/10, 2027
Round 4 –  January 15/16/17, 2027
Round of 16 –  April 2/3/4, 2027
Quarter-Finals –  April 9/10/11, 2027
Semi-Finals –  April 30/ May 1/2, 2027
EPCR Challenge Cup Final: Friday, May 21, 2027
Champions Cup Final: Saturday, May 22, 2027

 

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