Heineken Cup: Pools for 2009/10
June 09 2009
The draw for the fifteenth Heineken Cup competition has been made in Paris, with defending champions Leinster handed a favourable Pool.
Michael Cheika's outfit have been pitted against London Irish, the Scarlets and Brive while last year's beaten finalists Leicester are up against Clermont, the Ospreys and Viadana.
However, the 'Pool of Death' is without doubt the one taking place between European giants Toulouse, Cardiff Blues, Sale and Harlequins.
Gloucester might count themselves fortunate by avoiding Tier 1's so-called heavyweights after being grouped with Biarritz, Glasgow and 2009/10's final qualifiers the Dragons.
Meanwhile, the other stand-out selection sees Magners League and Top 14 champions Munster and Perpignan collide in Pool 1 alongside Northampton and Treviso.
Heineken Cup Pools for 2009/10
Pool 1: Munster, Perpignan, Northampton, Treviso
Pool 2: Biarritz, Gloucester, Dragons, Glasgow
Pool 3: Leicester, Ospreys, Clermont, Viadana
Pool 4: Bath, Stade Francais, Ulster, Edinburgh
Pool 5: Toulouse, Cardiff Blues, Sale, Harlequins
Pool 6: Leinster, London Irish, Scarlets, Brive