The Irish provinces involved in next season’s Heineken Cup have all been handed difficult pools in today’s draw in Cardiff.
Leinster’s new coach Josef Schmidt will have to mastermind his former French club Clermont Auvergne in Pool 2. along with Saracens and Racing-Metro 92.
Leinster narrowly defeated Clermont in the quarter-final of the competition in April.
Munster have been pitted against Magners League champions the Ospreys in Pool 3 and will also face the classy French side Toulon. London Irish complete the pool for Tony McGahan’s charges.
Meanwhile, Ulster find themselves amongst top class sides in the form of Biarritz and Bath. Italian newcomers Aironi Rugby make up the quartet in Pool 4.
Round 1 of the 2010/11 Heineken Cup goes ahead on the weekend of 8/9/10 October 2010 and the final will be played in the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on the weekend of 21/22 May.
2010/11 Heineken Cup Pools
Pool 1
Cardiff Blues
Northampton Saints
Edinburgh
Castres Olympique
Pool 2
Leinster
Clermont Auvergne
Saracens
Racing-Metro 92
Pool 3
Munster
Ospreys
London Irish
Toulon
Pool 4
Biarritz Olympique
Bath
Ulster
Aironi Rugby
Pool 5
Leicester Tigers
Scarlets
Perpignan
Benneton Treviso
Pool 6
Toulouse
London Wasps
Glasgow Warriors
Newport Gwent Dragons
