Scarlets kick off their 2026-27 EPCR Challenge Cup campaign with an Anglo-Welsh clash against Newcastle Red Bulls at Parc y Scarlets.
The round one tie will take place on Saturday, October 17 in front of the S4C cameras, with an 8pm kick-off.
The Red Bulls have had a high-profile recruitment blitz over the last 12 months, bringing in players of the calibre of Blues Super Rugby star Hoskins Sotutu, Sale scrum-half Raffi Quirke and Ulster’s South African wing Werner Kok, among a number of others.
It will be the first meeting between the sides in European competition and also a welcome return for Scarlets legend Stephen Jones, who is part of the coaching team at Kingston Park. Jones is the Scarlets’ record points scorer, playing 316 games in a career spanning 15 seasons and as a coach helped steer the Scarlets to Pro12 glory in 2017.
In round two, the Scarlets head to South Africa to take on the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban on Saturday, December 12.
Round three sees us back on home soil to take on French side LOU Rugby, a team who will no doubt have an eye on a home showpiece in May, with Lyon this season’s venue for the Investec Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals.
Scarlets finish the pool stages with a trip across the channel to take on Castres Olympique at the Stade Pierre Fabre. The round four match-up kicks off at 4.15pm (local time) on Saturday, January 16.
Scarlets’ Challenge Cup Pool 2 ties (All local times)
Sat, Oct 17 – Scarlets v Newcastle Red Bulls (8pm; S4C)
Sat, Dec 12 – Hollywoodbets Sharks v Scarlets (7.30pm; EPCR TV)
Sat, Jan 9 – Scarlets v LOU Rugby (8pm; EPCR TV)
Sat, Jan 16 – Castres Olympique v Scarlets (4.15pm; EPCR TV)
The Newcastle and Lyon fixtures are part of the Scarlets’ 2026-27 season ticket package. You can be part of the journey HERE
2026/27 EPCR CHALLENGE CUP
Pool 1: Toyota Cheetahs, Ulster Rugby, USAP, Dragons RFC, Aviron Bayonnais, Zebre Parma
Pool 2: Benetton Rugby, LOU Rugby, Newcastle Red Bulls, Hollywoodbets Sharks, Castres Olympique, Scarlets
Pool 3: Ospreys, Edinburgh Rugby, Black Lion, Harlequins, RC Toulon, RC Vannes
2026/27 Match Weekends
Round 1 – 16/17/18 October 2026
Round 2 – 11/12/13 December 2026
Round 3 – 8/9/10 January 2027
Round 4 – 15/16/17 January 2027
Round of 16 – 2/3/4 April 2027
Quarter-Finals – 9/10/11 April 2027
Semi-Finals – 30 April / 1/2 May 2027
Lyon 2027 Finals Weekend, OL Stadium
EPCR Challenge Cup Final: Friday 21 May 2027
Investec Champions Cup Final: Saturday 22 May 2027