Bath and Wasps will join European Champions Cup holders Toulon and Irish province Leinster in a real heavyweight pool in next season’s competition.
The Premiership pair were yesterday drawn in Pool Five of the 2015-16 Champions Cup and there were gasps in the Neuchatel auditorium in Switzerland when Toulon and Leinster joined them.
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Big spending Toulon have been champions of Europe for the last three years and beat fellow French club Clermont-Auvergne in the
final of last season’s competition at Twickenham. Leinster have also been champions of Europe three times and ended Bath’s interest in the competition in last season’s quarter-finals before succumbing to Toulon in the last four.
Premiership champions Saracens also have a tough draw in Pool One, where they have Ulster, four-time European kings Toulouse and French newcomers Oyonnax for company. Clermont’s attempt to go one better next season will be tested at the group stage by Welsh region Ospreys and Exeter Chiefs.
The 2015/16 #ChampionsCup is set to be a huge competition with these pools. Which takes your fancy? pic.twitter.com/QWcqyCGyjl
— Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) June 17, 2015
They are joined in Pool Two by French side Bordeaux-Begles, who came through the play-offs to book their Champions Cup place.
Two-time European champions Leicester are in Pool Four alongside French champions Stade Francais and Munster, and the trio will seek to take advantage of Benetton Treviso, the only Italian side in the competition, being in their section.
European Professional Club Rugby confirmed at the draw that next season’s Champions Cup final will take place at the Grand Stade de Lyon on May 14, with the Challenge Cup final played at the same venue the previous day.
It was also confirmed that the two competitions’ 2017 finals will be played at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh.
