It began on 9 October 2008 when RC Toulon hosted Northampton Saints and ended with two games on 25 January 2009.

The five pool winners and the best three runners-up advanced to the knockout stage.

These teams then competed in a single-elimination tournament that ended with the final at the Twickenham Stoop in London on 22 May 2009.

The draw for the pool stages took place on 23 June 2008.

The draw was conducted using the ERC European Ranking system which was based on the qualified teams' performances and participation in the Heineken Cup and knock-out stages of the European Challenge Cup over the past four seasons.