The Scarlets have been drawn in the same pool as newly crowned champions Bordeaux Begles and runners-up Northampton Saints on their return to the Investec Champions Cup.
It means the likes of Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey could be coming to Wales to challenge the Scarlets all-Welsh international back line as the Top 14 side seeks to hang onto the trophy they won for the first time in Cardiff this year.
The Saints boast four 2025 British & Irish Lions in their ranks – Tommy Freeman, Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell and Henry Pollock – and reached their third Champions Cup final last season having been crowned English champions in 2024.
The Welsh Shield winners, who also reached the last eight in the BKT United Rugby Championship to qualify for the top tier tournament in Europe, are also joined by Bristol Bears, Pau and the Bulls in Pool 4.
The Pool draws took place at the Premier Sports studios in Dublin with the action in the 2025-26 season kicking off on Friday 5 December.
The Champions Cup has two clubs from each of three leagues – TOP 14, Gallagher Premiership and URC – in each pool, and clubs from the URC’s Irish, Scottish and South African shields were kept apart during the draw.
Tier 1 clubs – including defending champions Bordeaux Bègles, TOP 14 title-winners Toulouse, Gallagher Premiership champions Bath, and URC winners Leinster – were each drawn first into separate pools, ensuring high-stakes matchups from the outset.
Each club will play four matches against four different clubs which are not from the same league either home or away.
Six-time Investec Champions Cup winners Toulouse were first out of the drum and will be joined in Pool 1 by ASM Clermont Auvergne, the Sharks, Saracens, Glasgow Warriors and Sale Sharks.
Bath Rugby came out of the hat first in Pool 2 and were joined by RC Toulon, Munster, Castres Olympique, Edinburgh and Gloucester.
Four-times Champions Cup winners Leinster head Pool 3 alongside two-time winners Leicester Tigers and La Rochelle. Harlequins, Bayonne and the Stormers conclude Pool 3.
Pool 4 is led by reigning the title holders Bordeaux Bègles, who will face a rematch of last season’s final against Northampton Saints, who also drawn in the same pool. Joining them are Scarlets, Bristol Bears, Pau and the Bulls.
In the EPCR Challenge Cup, Ospreys were first out of the drum going into Pool 1, alongside newly promoted Montauban, who return to the competition for the first time in 15 years. Zebre Parma, two-times Challenge Cup winners Montpellier, Black Lion and Connacht were also drawn in Pool 1.
Pool 2 features the 2022 winners and last season’s runners-up Lyon, who are joined by fellow TOP 14 side Perpignan, Dragons, Benetton Rugby and the Lions from the URC, along with the Gallagher Premiership’s Newcastle Falcons.
South African invitees the Cheetahs were the first drawn in Pool 3 with two-time winners Cardiff Rugby joining them. Exeter Chiefs, Racing 92 – semi-finalists last season – Stade Français Paris and Ulster were also drawn into Pool 3.
Clubs will play four matches against four different opponents during the pool stage with same league matches kept to a minimum, and only impacting clubs from the URC.
2025/26 INVESTEC CHAMPIONS CUP
Pool 1: Stade Toulousain, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Hollywoodbets Sharks, Saracens, Glasgow Warriors, Sale Sharks
Pool 2: Bath Rugby, RC Toulon, Munster Rugby, Castres Olympique, Edinburgh Rugby, Gloucester Rugby
Pool 3: Leinster Rugby, Leicester Tigers, Harlequins, Stade Rochelais, Aviron Bayonnais, DHL Stormers
Pool 4: Union Bordeaux Bègles, Scarlets, Bristol Bears, Section Paloise, Northampton Saints, Vodacom Bulls
2025/26 EPCR CHALLENGE CUP
Pool 1: Ospreys, Zebre Parma, Montpellier Hérault Rugby, US Montauban, Black Lion, Connacht Rugby
Pool 2: Lyon Olympique Universitaire, Newcastle Falcons, Dragons RFC, Benetton Rugby, Lions, USAP
Pool 3: Toyota Cheetahs, Cardiff Rugby, Exeter Chiefs, Racing 92, Stade Français Paris, Ulster Rugby
2025/26 weekends
Round 1 – 5/6/7 December 2025
Round 2 – 12/13/14 December 2025
Round 3 – 9/10/11 January 2026
Round 4 – 16/17/18 January 2026Round of 16 – 3/4/5 April 2026
Quarter-finals – 10/11/12 April 2026
Semi-finals – 1/2/3 May 2026EPCR Challenge Cup Final – San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao; Friday 22 May
Investec Champions Cup Final – San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao; Saturday 23 May