Heineken Cup - The draw: Munster get French test

Eurosport - Wed, 18 Jun 10:44:00 2008

Heineken Cup holders Munster have been drawn against French duo Clermont and Montauban in the pool stages of next season's competition.

Munster victory, RUGBY - 0

The Irish side, who fought to a 16-13 win over Toulouse in the 2008 final, face the tough task of fighting off two French teams in a group including the extra seventh qualification spot earned by the Top 14.

Clermont finished the French league regular season in first, while Montauban's seventh-placed finish took them to Europe's premier rugby competition for the first time in their history.

The trio will also face Sale Sharks, who came fifth in the Premiership.

Three-time champions and last season's runners-up Toulouse were drawn with British trio Bath, Glasgow and Newport.

Premiership play-off winners and former champions Wasps, meanwhile, drew Castres and Celtic League champions Leinster, along with Edinburgh.

The winners of each of the six pools will qualify for the quarter-finals along with the two best runners-up.

POOL ONE

Munster [IRL], Sale [ENG], Clermont Auvergne [FRA], Montauban [FRA]

POOL TWO

Wasps [ENG], Leinster [IRL], Castres [FRA], Edinburgh [SCO]

POOL THREE

Leicester [ENG], Perpignan [FRA], Ospreys [WAL], Treviso [ITA]

POOL FOUR

Stade Francais [FRA], Llanelli [WAL], Ulster [IRL], Harlequins [ENG]

POOL FIVE

Toulouse [FRA], Bath [ENG], Newport Gwent Dragons [WAL], Glasgow [SCO]

POOL SIX

Biarritz [FRA], Gloucester [ENG], Cardiff [WAL], Calvisano [ITA]

Reda Maher / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 7 of 7

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  1. COME ON MUNSTER!!!!!! :-)

    From Whispering, on Sat 20 Sep 10:40AM

  2. munster to hammer the french and english again!!!!!

    From sherlock_barry, on Thu 28 Aug 6:43PM

  3. Great draw for Cardiff, 3 weak teams, should go through without breaking sweat.

    From elliotnoel, on Tue 1 Jul 12:43PM

  4. Difficult draw for Wasps as well :O(

    From quoling, on Tue 17 Jun 3:38PM

  5. Go Gloucester

    From nick_of_the_bond, on Tue 17 Jun 2:45PM

  6. Ulster get in because they were the third best Irish team. Believe me they're much better than Connacht...

    From corinfitzgerald, on Tue 17 Jun 2:40PM

  7. Why are Ulster still in this competition? There are better sides in the sheild. They cannot dine off '99 forever.

    From S., on Tue 17 Jun 2:28PM
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