European Cup Rugby Ltd (ERC) today announced the six pools of four teams who will compete in this season’s Heineken Cup.
Munster, beaten finalists against Leicester at the Millennium Stadium last time round, were drawn in Pool Two alongside an accomplished Gloucester side and lesser known quantities, Perpignan and Viadana.
"The away game against Gloucester at Kingsholm just jumps out at you – it will be a massive occasion. Gloucester are a very strong side with some fantastic players and they will have had the boost of winning the English Championship," said Killian Keane, Munster’s international centre who is looking forward to his first competitive fixture against the English side.
"We have never played them (Gloucester) in a competitive fixture, just a pre-season friendly, but to clash with them in the Heineken Cup is just great.
"Overall it is certainly a far from easy Pool," added Keane. "We played Perpignan in the 1998/1999 tournament, the results going with home advantage. Viadana are an unknown quantity but they are the Italian champions and they may well strengthen their squad this summer in preparation for their first season in the Heineken Cup."
Leicester will face Amatori & Calvisano, Neath and Beziers in Pool One and the Tigers team manager, Dean Richards, expects it to be another difficult campaign:
"As usual, the Heineken Cup will extend us all the way. It is the premier club competition in the northern hemisphere – if not the world – and we very much look forward to defending our title.
Leinster were drawn in Pool Four alongside; Montferrand, Bristol Shoguns and Swansea while Ulster arguably have the most difficult task of the three provincial sides. They will face; Cardiff, Northampton Saints and Biarritz Olympique in Pool Six.
London Irish will compete in the event for the first time after they won the Powergen Cup final against Northampton in April. The Irish ex-pats, drawn in Pool Five, will meet Edinburgh Rugby, Toulouse and Newport.
Fixtures for the tournament will be announced on Thursday, June 27th in Lyon at a meeting where representatives from all 24 teams will be present.
All the knock-out stages will be played after the conclusion of the Six Nations Championship this year, starting with the quarter-finals on the second weekend of April and with the final being played on May 24th, 2003.
Heineken Cup Draw:
Pool 1:
Leicester Tigers
Amatori & Calvisano
Neath
Beziers
Pool 2:
Viadana
Munster
Gloucester
Perpignan
Pool 3:
Llanelli
Glasgow Rugby
Sale Sharks
Bourgoin
Pool 4:
Leinster
Montferrand
Bristol Shoguns
Swansea
Pool 5:
Edinburgh Rugby
Toulouse
Newport
London Irish
Pool 6:
Biarritz Olympique
Ulster
Cardiff
Northampton Saints