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Munster handed double French test

Tuesday 17th June 2008

Defending champions: Munster are ready to defend their title

Reigning champions Munster will face two French sides in next season's Heineken Cup Pool stages, having been drawn with Clermont and Montauban.

The fourth team in their Pool is Sale Sharks, who return to the Heineken Cup having spent last season in the European Challenge Cup.

With the new seeding system in place, based on previous performances in the Heineken Cup and knockout stages of the European Challenge Cup, there is no obvious 'Pool of Death' this season.

Wasps, who won the trophy two seasons ago, are in one of the toughest Pools, alongside Magners League champions Leinster, Castres and Edinburgh. Having lost to Edinburgh away three seasons ago Wasps know they can ill afford to underestimate their Pool.

The Ospreys and Leicester have been pitted against each other in Pool Three, having enjoyed a healthy rivalry in the EDF Energy Cup over the past few years. They are joined by Perpignan and Treviso in what should be a very competitive Pool.

Harlequins return to the Heineken Cup with what looks to be the trickiest Pool, that also includes Stade Fran�ais, the Scarlets and Ulster - all three have won the Heineken Cup before. In Pool Five Toulouse will fancy their chances of making the quarter-finals and should not face too much of a challenge from Bath, the Dragons and Glasgow.

The final Pool sees Biarritz, Gloucester and Cardiff Blues joined by Calvisano in what will be a three horse race for a quarter-final place.

Pool One
Munster
Sale
Clermont Auvergne
Montauban

Pool Two
Wasps
Leinster
Castres
Edinburgh

Pool Three
Leicester
Perpignan
Ospreys
Treviso

Pool Four
Stade Francais
The Scarlets
Ulster
Harlequins

Pool Five
Toulouse
Bath
The Dragons
Glasgow

Pool Six
Biarritz
Gloucester
Cardiff Blues
Calvisano