Holders Munster will face Leicester, Bourgoin and Cardiff in the pool stages of next season's Heineken Cup after the draw was made this morning.

Declan Kidney's side, who overcame Biarritz 23-19 in a dramatic final at the Millennium Stadium last month, will be taking nothing for granted with only the group winners guaranteed a place in the knockout stages.

"It will be tough," Munster's Frankie Sheehan conceded afterwards."Leicester have been the most consistent team in Europe for the last four or five years and Cardiff finished last season very well, but hopefully we can get through it."

Despite winning the tournament, Munster were not afforded a seeding with Celtic League winners Ulster afforded that honour. However, the northern province find themselves in the obligatory 'Group of Death' alongside three-time champions Toulouse, an improving Llanelli side and tournament newcomers London Irish.

Leinster, beaten by Munster in the semi-finals this season, have perhaps the most straightforward route of the Irish provinces with Gloucester, Agen and Edinburgh providing the opposition in Pool 2.

Biarritz, who picked up a second successive French championship this season, will be confident of emerging from a pool containing Northampton, Parma and the Borders.

The first round of matches with take place on the weekend of October 20th-22nd with organisers ERC set to schedule the fixtures at a later date.

Full draw

Pool 1: Benetton Treviso, Perpignan, London Wasps, Castres.

Pool 2: Edinburgh, Agen, Gloucester Rugby, Leinster.

Pool 3: Sale Sharks, Stade Francais, Calvisano, Ospreys.

Pool 4: Cardiff, Bourgoin, Leicester, Munster.

Pool 5: Ulster, Toulouse, London Irish, Llanelli Scarlets.

Pool 6: Biarritz, Northampton Saints, Parma, Border Reivers.