Competing teams, from England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales, were divided into six pools of four, in which teams played home and away matches against each other.

The winners of the pools, together with the two best runners-up, qualified for the knock-out stage.

The French club Toulouse won a nail-biting final over fellow French side Stade Français by 18–12 after extra time.

Toulouse became the first club to win the event three times.

In the pool matches teams received: The teams that qualified for the knockout stage are indicated in bold type on a green background.