Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh head coaches Franco Smith and Sean Everitt react to European draws
Both Scottish rugby sides will face tough matches against teams from England and France in the new season
Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith and Edinburgh counterpart Sean Everitt have both spoken about the challenges they will face in next season’s Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup following Wednesday’s draws.
Warriors will compete in the top competition after finishing first in the regular United Rugby Championship season in 2025/26. As for the capital club, finishing the last campaign outside of the top eight means they will compete in the second tier tournament.
Glasgow have been drawn in Pool 1 of the Champions Cup alongside reigning URC champions Leinster, French Top 14 pair Pau and Clermont Auvergne plus English duo Leicester Tigers and Sale Sharks.
Glasgow Warriors to face Leicester Tigers and Clermont in 2026/27 Champions Cup Pool Stage
Revamped competition rules prevent two clubs from the same domestic tournament facing each other which means Warriors will not come up against the Dublin outfit in the Pool Stage and will take on the two English and two French clubs across four separate match days.
Speaking to the Warriors website after the draw, Smith said: “The Investec Champions Cup is where you want to be testing yourself against some of the best clubs in world rugby, and this draw gives us exactly that opportunity. Each of these teams will present a different challenge.
“Leicester Tigers have a proud history in this competition and continue to represent one of the biggest clubs in English rugby. Sale Sharks are a side we know well from recent seasons, and we know the physical challenge they bring every time we meet.
“Section Paloise will be another great experience for our players and supporters, whilst Clermont have consistently shown the quality they possess on the European stage over many years. Every fixture will demand our very best if we want to be successful.
“We have spoken throughout the last few seasons about continuing to challenge ourselves against the highest level of opposition. These are the occasions that allow our players to grow, both individually and collectively, and they are the matches that everyone at our club looks forward to.
“We know the quality of the teams in our pool, but we’re excited by the opportunity to represent Glasgow Warriors in Europe once again and to compete against some outstanding opponents.”
Edinburgh drawn against Toulon again as familiar face also waits in Challenge Cup Pool Stage
As for Edinburgh, they will play RC Toulon in the Challenge Cup who they memorably beat in the Pool Stage of last season’s Investec Champions Cup. Sean Everitt’s side will face a second French Top 14 opponent in RC Vannes, who former hooker Dave Cherry plays for, as well as Harlequins of England’s Gallagher Premiership.
Completing the group is invitational side Black Lion from Georgia who Edinburgh previously met in the 2024/25 edition of this competition. URC rivals Ospreys complete Pool 3 but, as with the revamped Champions Cup rules, Edinburgh will not face the Welsh club.
Sean Everitt told the Edinburgh website: “ We’re excited to get going in the Challenge Cup and to test ourselves against four outstanding teams. It’s a pool that’s going to demand a lot from us, but that’s exactly the kind of challenge we want.
“RC Toulon are a star-studded side and one we know well after facing them in last season’s Champions Cup – that was one of our biggest wins of the year, and it will be great to take them on again. We haven’t faced Harlequins in Europe for nearly a decade now, but they’re always a dangerous, entertaining team to play against, home or away.
“Of course we’ll also see them before the season even starts, in our pre-season fixture at The Stoop, so there’s an extra edge to that one. It was a real pleasure travelling to Stade de la Rabine to face RC Vannes a few seasons ago – they have a tremendous fan base and there’s a familiar face on their side now too in Dave Cherry, who was such an important player for us during his time at the club.
“And then Black Lion – a proud rugby nation and a team who brought a brilliant atmosphere to Hive Stadium a few seasons back. It’ll be great to meet them again.”
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