Holders Saracens handed tough Champions Cup draw
Saracens celebrate with the trophy during the Champions Cup Final at St James' Park, Newcastle.
Champions Cup holders Saracens have been drawn in next season’s ‘group of death’ alongside last year’s semi-finalists Munster and French giants Racing 92.
Pool 4 is completed by Welsh region the Ospreys, who are making a return to Europe’s top-tier after spending the previous campaign in the Challenge Cup.
Elsewhere, there is an intriguing subplot in Pool 2 as Stuart Hogg makes a return to Scotstoun, with Exeter Chiefs and Glasgow Warriors set to go head-to-head.
Meanwhile, four-time winners and beaten finalists in 2018/19 Leinster will be content with their draw after being put into a group that includes Lyon, Northampton Saints and Benetton.
Nevertheless, it is the fourth pool which has caused the biggest talking point with ex-Biarritz scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili, who helped make the draw, stating: “Racing, Saracens and Munster in the same pool looks heavy!”
The Challenge Cup groups were also decided on Wednesday with Pool 3 the standout as Wasps, Edinburgh and Bordeaux-Begles all face-off.
Heineken Champions Cup
Pool 1: Leinster Rugby, Lyon, Northampton Saints, Benetton Rugby
Pool 2: Exeter Chiefs, Glasgow Warriors, La Rochelle, Sale Sharks
Pool 3: ASM Clermont Auvergne, Ulster Rugby, Harlequins, Bath Rugby
Pool 4: Saracens, Munster Rugby, Racing 92, Ospreys
Pool 5: Toulouse, Gloucester Rugby, Connacht Rugby, Montpellier
European Rugby Challenge Cup
Pool 1: Castres Olympique, Worcester Warriors, Dragons, Enisei-STM
Pool 2: Scarlets, RC Toulon, London Irish, Bayonne
Pool 3: Wasps, Edinburgh Rugby, Bordeaux-Begles, Agen
Pool 4: Stade Francais, Bristol Bears, Zebre Rugby Club, Brive
Pool 5: Cardiff Blues, Leicester Tigers, Pau, Rugby Calvisano