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Scarlets, Ospreys, Cardiff And Dragons Discover European Fate

Champions Cup Trophy. Pic: Alamy

Champions Cup Trophy. Pic: Alamy

Wales' four regions have discovered their European opponents for the 2025-26 season after the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup group stage draws were made in Dublin on Tuesday.

Scarlets will take on defending champions Bordeaux and last season's runners-up Northampton Saints in the 2025-26 Champions Cup.

Dwayne Peel's men were placed into Pool 4 for next season's edition of the European showpiece, with both sides who featured in last season's final in Cardiff set to take on the Welsh region next term.

The Parc y Scarlets outfit also come up against Bristol Bears, Bulls and Pau.

As for the Challenge Cup, Ospreys are joined in Pool 1 by fellow United Rugby Championship sides Zebre and Connacht.

Georgian side Black Lion will also lock horns with Mark Jones' men, along with French duo Montpellier and US Montauban.

Top 14 sides Lyon - who lost to Bath in last season's final at the Principality Stadium - and Perpignan are in Pool 2 with Dragons - who are also joined by Premiership Rugby outfit Newcastle Falcons and URC pair Benetton and Lions.

As for Matt Sherratt's Cardiff, they have been drawn to face URC opponents Cheetahs and Ulster along with 2019-20 Champions Cup winners Exeter.

French pair Stade Francais and Racing 92 complete the Pool 3 lineup.

Group stage fixtures commence on the weekend of 5-7 December, with the round of 16 and quarter-final matches all taking place in April 2026.

The semi-finals will be held on the opening weekend of May, with both European finals taking place at the San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao.

The Challenge Cup final will be held on Friday, May 22, with the Champions Cup final taking place a day later.

READ MORE: Wales Icon Ieuan Evans' Devastation As 'Exemplary' Lion Tomos Williams' Tour Cruelly Cut Short

Champions Cup draw:

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

Challenge Cup draw:

Pool 1

Ospreys, Zebre Parma, Montpellier Hérault Rugby, US Montauban, Black Lion, Connacht Rugby

Pool 2

LOU Rugby, Newcastle Falcons, Dragons, Benetton Rugby, Lions, USAP

Pool 3

Toyota Cheetahs, Cardiff Rugby, Exeter Chiefs, Racing 92, Stade Français Paris, Ulster Rugby

READ MORE: Dewi Lake Swats Aside Welsh Rugby Politics Concerns As Just One Thing On Captain's Mind For Japan Double Header

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