Chiefs to welcome Stade Rochelais and Connacht to Sandy Park
Published on: 10/07/2026
Exeter Chiefs will kickstart their Investec Champions Cup campaign with a trip to European rugby giants Stade Toulousain on Sunday, 18 October (KO 16:15).
Having stepped up to the top tier of the European competition following their Gallagher PREM Final finish last season, Irish provincial side Connacht will then set down in Exeter on Sunday, 13 December (KO 13:00).
For round three, Chiefs will entertain Jack Nowell’s Stade Rochelais at Sandy Park on Saturday, 9 January (KO 15:15) before their last pool two match against the Lions at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday, January 16 (KO 15:00).
Exeter Chiefs’ director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “It’s a really exciting group of fixtures for all kinds of reasons. Going away to Toulouse is a fantastic experience whenever you get the opportunity to do it. Hopefully, it will be one of those games when loads of fans will want to come over and watch the current French champions take on Exeter Chiefs.
“For me, if you are going to be challenged and develop as a team, going over to Toulouse to start the competition is probably as good and as tough as it gets. It’s also a great opportunity to show how we are developing as a team.”
After the opening weekend of Investec Champions Cup, all Chiefs supporters’ attention will turn to the games on home soil.
Baxter added: “The two middle fixtures against Connacht and La Rochelle are two of those fixtures you really want to get your teeth into to see if you are the quality of side to progress into the competition. If we can create a great atmosphere at Sandy Park and attack those two games, then we could potentially make things really interesting for ourselves when we go over to Johannesburg to play that last game at an iconic stadium like Ellis Park.
“They are all really exciting fixtures for us and I’m really looking forward to getting back into the Champions Cup and seeing how our continued development as a team goes in the European competition.”
Tickets for Chiefs’ home pool games in the 2026/27 Investec Champions Cup will go on sale later this month.
Written By:
Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club
