Union Bordeaux-Bègles and Glasgow Warriors secured the top two seeds in the 2026 Investec Champions Cup playoffs after perfect pool stage records. Bordeaux clinched the No. 1 position with a bonus-point win over Bristol Bears, while Glasgow outclassed Saracens to earn home advantage through the quarterfinals. The last-16 draw features several high-stakes matchups set for early April.
The 2026 Investec Champions Cup pool stage concluded with Union Bordeaux-Bègles earning the No. 1 seed after a dramatic 27-15 victory over Bristol Bears on January 18 at Ashton Gate. The defending champions went 4-0-0, accumulating 20 match points with bonus points in every game, including a late 79th-minute try by Louis Bielle-Biarrey that sealed the bonus point after Bristol mishandled a restart. This edged out Glasgow Warriors, who also finished 4-0-0 with 20 points but trailed on points difference.
Glasgow confirmed their No. 2 seed with a commanding 28-3 win over Saracens at Scotstoun Stadium on the same day. Tries from Ollie Smith, Kyle Steyn, George Horne, and substitute Seb Stephen, with Horne adding three conversions and Ross Lancaster one, highlighted a dominant first half where Glasgow led 21-3. Despite Saracens' second-half pressure and a yellow card to Glasgow's Kyle Rowe, the Scottish side's defense held firm, securing bonus-point victory and home ties through the quarterfinals.
Leinster Rugby took the No. 3 seed as Pool 3 winners, while Bath Rugby claimed No. 4 after a 63-10 thrashing of Edinburgh to top Pool 2. Other pool winners included Northampton Saints (No. 5, 16 points), Harlequins (No. 6, 15 points), Toulon (No. 7, 14 points), and Toulouse (No. 8, 12 points despite two losses).
The last-16 draw, announced shortly after the final pool matches, pits Bordeaux against Leicester Tigers, Glasgow versus Vodacom Bulls, Leinster hosting Edinburgh, Bath facing Saracens, Northampton versus Castres, Harlequins against Sale Sharks, Toulon hosting DHL Stormers, and Toulouse welcoming Bristol Bears. Matches are scheduled for April 3-5, with higher seeds hosting. Notably, former powerhouses La Rochelle and Munster failed to advance, dropping to the EPCR Challenge Cup playoffs.
This seeding ensures Bordeaux and Glasgow host Round of 16 and potential quarterfinal matches, positioning them favorably for the final on May 23 in Bilbao, Spain. The tournament features seven English teams, four French, two South African, two Scottish, and one Irish side in the knockout stage.
