English clubs were allocated to the pools depending on their final positions in the 2016–17 Aviva Premiership.

The competition will take place during the Autumn International window and during the Six Nations.

Leicester Tigers are defending champions after claiming the cup with a 16–12 victory over Exeter Chiefs in the 2016–17 final at Twickenham Stoop.

The points scoring system for the pool stages will be as follows: [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [4][5][6][7][8][9] [4][5][6][7][8][9][10] [4][5][6][7][8][9][10] 66–7 London Irish at home to Wasps on 27 January 2018 40-0 Exeter Chiefs away to Scarlets on 12 November 2017 66–7 London Irish at home to Wasps on 27 January 2018 London Irish at home to Wasps on 27 January 2018 London Irish at home to Wasps on 27 January 2018 Saracens away to Sale Sharks on 10 November 2017 [4][5][6][7][8][9][10] Leicester Tigers at home to Gloucester on 4 November 2017 Sale Sharks at home to Northampton Saints on 27 January 2018 [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

Freddie Burns for Bath at home to Leicester Tigers on 10 November 2017 Dean Hammond for Worcester Warriors away to Harlequins on 12 November 2017 Joe Cokanasiga for London Irish at home to Wasps on 27 January 2018 James Marshall for London Irish away to Cardiff Blues on 2 February 2018 Max Malins for Saracens away to Sale Sharks on 10 November 2017 [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]