Champions Cup & Challenge Cup pools confirmed for 2023/24 season

The pools for the Champions and Challenge Cup 2023/24 season have been confirmed. 

The biggest difference to the format of the Champions Cup this year is that the large pools of 12 have been cut into four six-team groups instead. Of those, four teams will advance to the knockout stages, the last 16. The fifth place team will be diverted into the Challenge Cup.

There will be no pool matches between teams from the same domestic league meaning the Irish teams will play against the English and French teams in their pool, with two home games and two away games.

There will also be just two tiers of seeds. As winners of their respective leagues, Munster, Saracens and Toulouse have earned top-seed status, along with defending champions La Rochelle. The remaining 20 teams will be in the second tier, including twice runners-up Leinster.

The Champions Cup kicks off on December 8th. The finals will take place in London next May.