Munster will be travelling to England, France and Italy for their pool matches in next season’s Heineken Cup following the draw made for the 15th season of the prestigious rugby tournament.
The two time European Cup champions will face off against Northampton, French Champions Perpignan and Benneton Treviso in pool 1.
Heineken Cup champions Leinster will face London Irish, Scarlets and Brive in the Pool stages when they defend their prestigious title in the 15th season of Europe’s premier club rugby tournament kicking-off on the weekend of 9 / 10 / 11 October.
At today’s (Tuesday) event at Stade de France – venue of the 2010 final to be played on Saturday, 22 May – the draw for the six Pools of four teams each, made by ERC Chairman Jean-Pierre Lux and Chief Executive Derek McGrath, also saw 2009 Heineken Cup finalists and former double champions Leicester Tigers drawn to face Ospreys ASM Clermont Auvergne and Viadana in Pool 3.
The draw was conducted using the merit-based ERC European Ranking system based on the qualified teams’ performances over the past four seasons in the Heineken Cup and knock-out stages of the European Challenge Cup.
The 24 teams who have qualified for the 2009/10 competition were graded into four Tiers of six teams each with each of the six Pools having one team from each of the four Tier levels, English clubs Sale Sharks and Harlequins drawn together in Pool 5 as England have seven teams in next season’s competition.
HEINEKEN CUP 2009/10 POOLS
POOL 1: Munster, Perpignan, Northampton Saints, Benetton Treviso
POOL 2: Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque, Gloucester Rugby, Newport Gwent Dragons, Glasgow Warriors
POOL 3: Leicester Tigers, Ospreys, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Viadana
POOL 4: Bath Rugby, Stade Français Paris, Ulster Rugby, Edinburgh
POOL 5: Toulouse, Cardiff Blues, Sale Sharks, Harlequins
POOL 6: Leinster, London Irish, Scarlets, Brive
