Cardiff return to European top tier in Northampton

Cardiff will return to the top tier of European competition with a trip to face English champions Northampton.

The Blue and Blacks qualified for the Champions Cup by making the United Rugby Championship (URC) play-offs.

They will travel to the Prem-winning Saints on Sunday, 18 October (17:30 BST) and then host Bath on Saturday, 12 December (20:00 GMT).

The venue for that Pool 4 fixture is still to be confirmed, although it is likely to remain at the Arms Park given the late kick-off time.

Cardiff play a French double-header in January, travelling to Paris to face Stade Francais before finishing the group stages against Challenge Cup winners and Top 14 runners-up Montpellier.

The Blue and Blacks do not face URC rivals Bulls in the six-team pool.

The top three in each group progresses to the last 16 of the Champions Cup, along with the next four clubs who have amassed the most points.

The three other Welsh sides are in the Challenge Cup with Dragons, semi-finalists last season, getting things under way when they welcome Perpignan to Rodney Parade on Friday, 16 October (20:00 GMT).

Filo Tiatia’s men then travel to Cheetahs, at a venue to be confirmed after the South African side played in Netherlands in 2025-26, before hosting Bayonne and finishing at Ulster.

Ospreys start at Georgian side Black Lion, with that venue also to be confirmed, before a bumper European return to revamped St Helen’s in Swansea with the visit of Harlequins.

Mark Jones’ side travel to Toulon in January and finish at home to Vannes.

Scarlets kick off against Newcastle Red Bulls in Llanelli before a trip to South Africa to face Sharks.

They also have two French opponents in January with a home fixture against Lyon and visit to Castres.

The top three in each of the three Challenge Cup pools progress to the last 16 along with the trio with the next best records plus four teams who drop down from the Champions Cup.

European group fixtures

Cardiff Champions Cup fixtures

Sunday, 18 October – Northampton v Cardiff (17:30 BST)

Saturday, 12 December – Cardiff v Bath (20:00 GMT)

Saturday, 9 January – Stade Francais v Cardiff (20:00 GMT)

Friday, 15 January – Cardiff v Montpellier (20:00 GMT)

Dragons Challenge Cup fixtures

Friday, 16 October – Dragons v Perpignan (20:00 BST)

Sunday, 13 December – Cheetahs v Dragons (venue TBC)

Friday, 8 January 8 – Dragons v Bayonne (20:00 GMT)

Saturday, 16 January 16 – Ulster v Dragons (15:15 GMT)

Ospreys Challenge Cup fixtures

Saturday, 17 October – Black Lion v Ospreys (venue TBC)

Saturday, 12 December – Ospreys v Harlequins (13:00 GMT)

Saturday, 9 January – Toulon v Ospreys (13:00 GMT)

Saturday, 16 January – Ospreys v Vannes (20:00 GMT)

Scarlets Challenge Cup fixtures

Saturday, 17 October – Scarlets v Newcastle (20:00 BST)

Saturday, 12 December – Sharks v Scarlets (19:30 GMT)

Saturday, 9 January – Scarlets v Lyon (20:00 GMT)

Saturday, 16 January – Castres v Scarlets (15:15 GMT)