Connacht will play Brive, Newcastle Falcons and Cetransa El Salvador in the pool stages of the European Challenge Cup, the draw for which has been made in Dublin.

The Irish province - who have played a record 71 matches in 11 seasons in the tournament - join Bath Rugby, Montauban, Rugby Calvisano and Bayonne as one of the five seeded teams.

With Spain returning to European competition for the first time since the 2004 / 2005 season, 20 teams from six nations - England, France, Ireland, Italy, Romania and Spain - will compete.

Each side will play six group stage matches with the five pool winners and three best runners-up advancing to the knock-out stages.

"We have retained the same successful format of the last two seasons of the European Challenge Cup and following today's draw we are looking forward to another highly successful competition," ERC chairman Jean-Pierre Lux said.

"ASM Clermont Auvergne - who have qualified for the Heineken Cup - and Bath Rugby produced a thrilling European Challenge Cup final at the Twickenham Stoop last month and the tournament again promises to provide plenty of top quality and high intensity European rugby."

Pool 1:Bath Rugby, Albi, Overmach Rugby Parma, Auch
Pool 2:Montauban, Worcester Warriors, Gran Parma, Bucuresti
Pool 3: Connacht Rugby, Brive, Newcastle Falcons, Cetransa El Salvador
Pool 4:Bayonne, Sale Sharks, Petrarca Rugby, Montpellier
Pool 5:Rugby Calvisano, Castres Olympique, Leeds Carnegie, Dax