Rugby:Munster and Leinster have both been handed tough away draws if they reach the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup. Munster were earlier installed as the top seeds for the quarter-finals and will take on eighth seeds Northampton at Thomond Park, while reigning champions Leinster are seeded fourth and will host Clermont Auvergne.
Quarter-final matches will be played the weekend of April 9-11, 2010.
If defending champions Leinster can overcome Clermont in the last eight they will have a trip to France to play the winner between Toulouse against Stade Français in the semi-finals on May 1-2, 2010.
"First up for us is Clermont," said Leinster captain Leo Cullen. "If we can get past them then we will start looking at the challenge of facing either Toulouse or Stade Français.
"The quality of the teams left in the Heineken Cup is just unbelievable and this season the French teams have really hit back with their teams winning four of the six Pools.
"It has brought a French feel to the tournament and you have to say they are looking pretty formidable, particularly with the prospect for them of playing in the final in Paris in May."
Should Munster overcome Northampton in Limerick they face an away trip to either Biarritz or Ospreys in the last four.
Without losing the run today's draw also means it is possible for Leinster and Munster to meet in the final in Paris on May 22nd but there is an awful lot of rugby to be played between now and then.
In the Amlin Challenge Cup top seeds Connacht got a favourable draw at the quarter-final stage where Michael Bradley's side will take on French side Bourgoin at the Sportsground.
Heineken Cup Quarter-Final Qualifiers and Rankings:
1. Munster
2. Biarritz Olympique
3. Toulouse
4. Leinster
5. ASM Clermont Auvergne
6. Stade Français Paris
7. Ospreys (Best Pool runner-up)
8. Northampton Saints (Second best Pool runner-up)
Quarter-Final Draw:
Munster (1) v Northampton Saints (8)
Biarritz Olympique (2) v Ospreys (7)
Toulouse (3) v Stade Français Paris (6)
Leinster (4) v ASM Clermont Auvergne (5)
Semi-Final Draw:
Toulouse (3) / Stade Français Paris (6) v Leinster (4) / ASM Clermont Auvergne (5)
Biarritz Olympique (2) / Ospreys (7) v Munster (1) / Northampton Saints (8)
Amlin Challenge Cup Quarter-Final Qualifiers:
1. Connacht Rugby (Top ranked AAC Pool winner)
2. Toulon (Second ranked AAC Pool winner)
3. London Wasps (Third ranked ACC Pool winner)
4. Newcastle Falcons (Fourth ranked ACC Pool winner)
5. Cardiff Blues (Third best Heineken Cup Pool runner-up)
6. Gloucester Rugby (Fourth best Heineken Cup Pool runner-up)
7. Scarlets (Fifth best Heineken Cup Pool runner-up)
8. Bourgoin (Fifth ranked ACC Pool winner)
Quarter-Final Draw:
1 Connacht Rugby (ACC 1) v Bourgoin 8 (ACC 5)
2 Toulon (ACC 2) v Scarlets 7 (Heineken Cup 3)
3 London Wasps (ACC 3) v Gloucester Rugby 6 (Heineken Cup 2)
4 Newcastle Falcons (ACC 4) v Cardiff Blues 5 (Heineken Cup 1)