EHL Finals 2027 Draw: Hosts Oranje-Rood Get Arminen, Braxgata Land Amsterdam

The routes to Eindhoven are set. And a few clubs will not be sleeping easy tonight.

The ABN AMRO EHL FINALS 2027 draw was made on Monday 19 October, mapping out the FINAL12 ties for the finals weekend at HC Oranje-Rood from 24 to 29 March 2027. We confirmed Eindhoven as host last week, and you can read that piece here: Eindhoven Gets the Lot: EHL Finals 2027 Confirmed for Oranje-Rood

The format helps explain the draw. The champions from the top four ranked nations go straight into the FINAL8. Everyone else has to win a FINAL12 game first. Lose that, and your Easter is over before it has really started.

The hosts can’t complain, but they can’t relax either

Oranje-Rood, playing at home, drew Austrian champions SV Arminen. It’s the kindest draw the hosts could have hoped for on paper, but Arminen have reached the Easter phase for a third time and they knocked out Lille and Edinburgh University to get here. The winner gets Waterloo Ducks in the quarter-finals.

That is the pattern everywhere in this draw. Win your first game, and a giant is waiting.

A Dutch-Belgian scrap opens the men’s draw

Braxgata against AH&BC Amsterdam is the tie of the men’s FINAL12 for our money. Two proper clubs, and there’s a family twist too, with brothers Tobias and Olivier Biekens potentially lining up against each other. The winner faces HC Rotterdam. So one of Europe’s traditional powerhouses is going home early, whichever way it goes.

Royal Orée, who were superb on their EHL debut in ROUND1 last week, now get Surbiton. The English side are still chasing a first EHL final for an English club. Hamburger Polo Club await the winner.

In the other half, Real Club de Campo take on Lisnagarvey. The Irish champions were ruthless in Pool D in Eindhoven, winning 6-0 against CAM92 to book their place, and they’ll fancy a go at Campo. English champions Old Georgians wait in the FINAL8.

Men’s FINAL12, in full:

• Braxgata HC (BEL) v AH&BC Amsterdam (NED) — winner plays HC Rotterdam (NED)
• Royal Orée (BEL) v Surbiton HC (ENG) — winner plays Hamburger Polo Club (GER)
• Real Club de Campo (ESP) v Lisnagarvey HC (IRL) — winner plays Old Georgians (ENG)
• SV Arminen (AUT) v HC Oranje-Rood (NED) — winner plays Waterloo Ducks (BEL)

The champions have to earn it on the women’s side

SCHC are the reigning women’s champions, but they didn’t get a bye. They have to go through the FINAL12 like everyone else outside the top four, and their reward for that status is a tie against Lille MHC, the first French side ever to play in this competition. Win it, and Gantoise are next. That’s no reward at all.

Belgian debutants KHC Dragons face Mannheimer HC, the 2024 silver medallists, with Amsterdam waiting for the winner. Surbiton play Scottish newcomers Clydesdale Western, who are in Europe for the first time after winning the Scottish championship, and the winner meets Real Club de Campo.

Atlètic Terrassa, another debut side, face Irish champions Railway Union. Both will look at that tie and think it’s winnable. Düsseldorfer HC are waiting for whoever comes through.

Women’s FINAL12, in full:

• KHC Dragons (BEL) v Mannheimer HC (GER) — winner plays AH&BC Amsterdam (NED)
• Surbiton HC (ENG) v Clydesdale Western HC (SCO) — winner plays Real Club de Campo (ESP)
• Atlètic Terrassa HC (ESP) v Railway Union HC (IRL) — winner plays Düsseldorfer HC (GER)
• Lille MHC (FRA) v SCHC (NED) — winner plays Gantoise HC (BEL)

No schedule or tickets yet, and don’t believe anyone who says otherwise

The EHL hasn’t published the match schedule or ticket details yet. The schedule will be prepared in the coming week, and ticket information is set to follow shortly after that. We’ll update this piece as soon as the official details land.

Twenty-four teams, six days, one venue in Eindhoven. The draw hasn’t produced a single easy route. That’s exactly how it should be.