The Fidelite SecureDrive Lions qualification for the URC Top Eight and Investec Champions Cup was secured following the 26-59 loss of Ulster against Montpeiller in last night's EPCR Challenge Cup final at the San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao.
Despite finishing 7th on the URC Log, the Lions' URC Top Eight finish did not automatically secure them a place in the Investec Cup for the 2026/27 season.
Eighth place is usually enough, but it is not a 100% guarantee because of the "Challenge Cup Exception." According to URC qualification rules, the top eight teams qualify unless a team from outside the top eight wins a European trophy.
Had Ulster won, they would have taken one of the URC's eight spots. Their loss means the qualification spots stay strictly with the top-ranked teams on the log, and the Lions are assured of a place in the Investec Champions Cup even if Connacht win the 2025/26 URC final.
Connacht could also have earned an automatic Champions Cup spot by winning the URC championship. If Connacht goes on to win the URC title, they claim the URC's automatic qualification spot, which would have dropped the Lions out of the Champions Cup and into the EPCR Challenge Cup, had Ulster won the EPCR Challenge Cup.