Dragons RFC have today discovered the club’s shortlisted opponents in the EPCR Challenge Cup for the 2025/26 season.
The Men of Gwent were today (Tuesday) drawn - during the ceremony at the Premier Sports studios in Dublin - in Pool 2 of the European tournament alongside 2022 winners and last season’s runners-up Lyon, Newcastle Falcons, Benetton Rugby, Lions and Perpignan.
The 2025/26 EPCR Challenge Cup tournament will continue with the same pool stage format as last season and will kick off in December with two consecutive rounds of action, followed by Rounds 3 and 4 on consecutive weekends in January 2026.
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.
The draws, which were streamed live on EPCRugby.TV, were co-presented by Elma Smit and Vincent Pochulu.
With the Pools now set, fixture schedules for both tournaments including dates, venues, kick-off times and TV coverage will be announced later this month. Fixtures are determined following the input of individual club calendar and venue considerations, broadcast requirements and league calendar restrictions into an algorithm with the outcomes of today’s Pool Draws, all of which are considered to deliver the optimum fixture schedules.
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 2026
- Round of 16 – 3/4/5 April 2026
- Quarter-finals – 10/11/12 April 2026
- Semi-finals – 1/2/3 May 2026
- EPCR Challenge Cup Final – San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao; Friday 22 May
