The Investec Champions Cup returns this weekend with every pool log point crucial to qualify for the round of 16 and secure home advantage.
With a rematch of last year’s final, rivalries and statement fixtures across the pools, round three promises a standout weekend of rugby.
It begins on Friday night with two pivotal Pool 2 fixtures. With five clubs level on five points and Bath narrowly leading on six, clashes between Castres and Bath and between Edinburgh and Gloucester could prove crucial.
The unbeaten Bristol Bears travel to Vodacom Bulls, who will be seeking their first win of the campaign to keep qualification hopes alive, while Bristol will be spurred on by their Premiership form having won their last four matches.
CHAMPIONS CUP POOL 4: Bulls must go on charge
The Glasgow Warriors are flying in Pool 1, four points clear at the top after their incredible victory over Toulouse in round two, and now face Clermont, who are still searching for their opening points. Both will be full of confidence following their recent domestic form, with the Scots second in the Vodacom URC, and Clermont buoyed by their December thrashing of reigning Champions Cup champions Bordeaux Bègles.
The Aviva Stadium in Dublin will be buzzing on Saturday evening as unbeaten Leinster host old foes La Rochelle in their Pool 3 showdown. This marks the seventh clash between two of Europe’s heavyweights, who last faced off in round four of last season, when Leinster edged a dramatic two-point victory.
Kicking off at the same time, it’s a clash of the Sharks in Pool 1 as the Durbanites head to Sale, with the hosts currently just one point ahead in the pool table.
CHAMPIONS CUP POOL 1: Clash of Sharks could be key
Two must-win encounters follow on Saturday night as the Scarlets face Pau and the Leicester Tigers host Bayonne, with all four sides still chasing their first victory.
Four huge matches will take place on Sunday kicking off in London with Harlequins vs Stormers. The Stormers – who are also unbeaten in the URC this season and top the table – present a formidable challenge as they look to maintain their position at the top of Pool 3.
CHAMPIONS CUP POOL 3: Stormers, Leinster set pace
Toulon and Munster are both on five points in Pool 2 with a win apiece. Toulon will be feeling confident heading into another home match where they are unbeaten since last season’s quarter-final, while Munster’s travelling fans will no doubt bring their voices to light up Stade Felix Mayol.
One of the standout fixtures of the round sees 2025 finalists Bordeaux-Bègles and the Northampton Saints meet again. Both teams remain perfect in Pool 4 on 10 points with Bordeaux flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert leading the competition in points while Northampton’s George Hendy tops the try-scoring charts.
Same teams, same stadium, two years later
Will it be Leinster or Stade Rochelais who takes the win in Round 3 of the #InvestecChampionsCup?
pic.twitter.com/OsbVg4AKKT
— Investec Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) January 3, 2026
The weekend concludes at StoneX Stadium as Saracens host Toulouse. Level on points in Pool 1, the six-time champions will arrive looking to make a statement, with Thomas Ramos and Ange Capuozzo both in prolific form. Although the French top the Top 14 standings, Saracens will take confidence from Toulouse’s potential to tumble, following their surprise Top 14 defeat to EPCR Challenge Cup contenders Perpignan over the weekend and their round two loss to the Glasgow Warriors.
Round 3 fixtures (SA times)
Friday, 9 January
Castres vs Bath (10pm)
Edinburgh vs Gloucester (10pm)
Saturday, 10 January
Bulls vs Bristol Bears (3pm)
Clermont vs Glasgow Warriors (5:15pm)
Leinster vs La Rochelle (7:30pm)
Sale Sharks vs Sharks (7:30pm)
Scarlets vs Pau (10pm)
Leicester Tigers vs Bayonne (10pm)
Sunday, 11 January
Harlequins vs Stormers (3pm)
Toulon vs Munster (3pm)
Bordeaux Bègles vs Northampton Saints (5:15pm)
Saracens vs Toulouse (7:30pm)
Round of 16 qualifying rules
The top four clubs in each pool will qualify for the round of 16. Clubs will then be ranked overall from 1 to 16, based first on their pool position and then on total match points earned. Pool winners will be ranked 1-4, second-placed clubs 5-8, third-placed clubs 9-12, and fourth-placed clubs 13-16. Clubs ranked 1-8 will have home advantage in the round of 16. The fifth-placed club in each pool will qualify for the EPCR Challenge Cup round of 16.
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
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