Ulster coach Richie Murphy reveals why Challenge Cup draw will be a benefit to his young side
While it is not the competition Ulster want to be in, having missed out on the top-tier Champions Cup after finishing 14th in the United Rugby Championship last season, it is still a tough pool draw for Murphy's men.
The fixtures are yet to be determined, with Ulster set to face only four of their five pool rivals — the province are likeliest not to face Cardiff due to them being a fellow URC team — but there is the possibility of two trips to Paris in December and January, or a first ever trip to Amsterdam, where the Cheetahs are based despite being from Bloemfontein in South Africa.
While they avoided the likes of a trip to Georgia or some less familiar French sides in the draw, Murphy says is excited to pit his squad against some recognisable faces, and he is hopeful that some full-blooded European ties will do his squad some good.
'We're really excited for what lies ahead in the Challenge Cup. Being drawn alongside some top-quality opposition gives us a brilliant challenge and a great opportunity to test ourselves against teams we don't face week in, week out,' said the head coach, who is going into his second full season in charge.
'It's a new mix of styles and environments that will challenge the squad and excite our supporters. European competitions are always incredibly tough, and we're really looking forward to getting stuck in.'
Even though they have dropped down into the Challenge Cup, there is no doubting the draw could have been much kinder for Ulster, who have been handed a former European champion, a three-time Champions Cup finalist and two former Challenge Cup champions in their pool.
Racing 92 are the big draw with the galactico squad at their disposal that contains the likes of France captain Gaël Fickou and fellow internationals Demba Bamba, Nolann le Garrec and Cameron Woki, as well as incoming Australian prop Taniela Tupou.
The two sides have met as recently as December 2023 when Ulster triumphed 31-15 at Ravenhill in a Champions Cup clash, with this meeting the fourth in the pair's history.
There will be plenty of Ulster fans who will be eagerly anticipating the rematch with Stade Francais after the pair's infamous last meeting in 2009 when Stephen Ferris was eye-gouged by David Attoub, who received a 70-week ban for his actions.
No longer a European powerhouse, the Parisians still boast a strong squad led by mercurial French full-back Léo Barré and will be a stern test for this young Ulster squad.
The Cheetahs will be an intriguing prospect, too, the South Africans playing their home matches in Amsterdam as opposed to Bloemfontein, with Ulster set for their first meeting with the former Pro14 side since they left the League in 2020.
And there will be a quick rematch with Exeter, whom Ulster defeated at Ravenhill back in January to book their place in the last-16 of the Champions Cup, in the pool stages as well, Rob Baxter's former European champions having fallen away in recent years but still a threat thanks to the likes of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Henry Slade and Ross Vintcent.
How they line-up
2025/26 Investec Champions Cup
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
2025/26 EPCR Challenge Cup
Pool 1: Ospreys, Zebre Parma, Montpellier Hérault Rugby, US Montauban, Black Lion, Connacht Rugby
Pool 2: Lyon Olympique Universitaire, Newcastle Falcons, Dragons RFC, Benetton Rugby, Lions, USAP
Pool 3: Toyota Cheetahs, Cardiff Rugby, Exeter Chiefs, Racing 92, Stade Français Paris, Ulster Rugby
2025/26 weekends
Round 1: 5/6/7 December 2025
Round 2: 12/13/14 December 2025
Round 3: 9/10/11 January 2026
Round 4: 16/17/18 January 2026
Round of 16: 3/4/5 April 2026
Quarter-Finals: 10/11/12 April 2026
Semi-Finals: 1/2/3 May 2026
EPCR Challenge Cup Final: San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao; Friday 22 May
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