European Cup
2010/11 Pools
Heineken Cup champions Toulouse will face London Wasps, Glasgow Warriors and Newport Gwent Dragons in the Pool stages of the 2010/11 Heineken Cup tournament when they defend their prestigious title in the 16thseason of Europe’s premier club rugby competition kicking-off on the weekend of 8/9/10 October, 2010.
In the draw made in Cardiff – host city for the 2011 final to be played at the Millennium Stadium on the weekend of 21/22 May – the cup holders were drawn in Pool 6 while the Ospreys, the newly crowned Magners League champions and Tier 2 team, will be up against 2006 and 2008 Heineken Cup Champions Munster, as well as London Irish and RC Toulon in Pool 3.
The draw for the six Pools of four teams each, made by ERC Chairman Jean-Pierre Lux and Chief Executive Derek McGrath, also saw 2001 and 2002 Heineken Cup winners and reigning Guinness Premiership champions Leicester Tigers drawn to face the Scarlets, Perpignan and Benetton Treviso in Pool 5.
French Top 14 champions ASM Clermont Auvergne will face 2009 Heineken Cup winners Leinster, Guinness Premiership runners up Saracens and fellow French side Racing Metro 92.
The draw was again conducted using the merit-based ERC European Ranking system compiled on the qualified teams' performances over the past four seasons in the Heineken Cup and knock-out stages of the Amlin Challenge Cup.
The 24 teams who have qualified for the 2010/11 competition were graded into four Tiers of six teams each with each of the six Pools having one team from each of the four Tier levels. French clubs ASM Clermont Auvergne and Racing-Metro 92 were drawn together in Pool 2 as France have seven teams in next season’s competition.
Clash of the champions
Toulouse will open their Heineken Cup title defence with a home “Clash of the Champions” against former double winners London Wasps in the final Round 1 match on Sunday, 10 October.
The opening exchanges of the 16thseason of European club rugby’s elite tournament will be between another former champion club – 2000 winners Northampton Saints – and Castres Olympique.
The fixtures, dates, kick-off times and host broadcasters were today (Tuesday, 20 July) announced by tournament organisers ERC with additional broadcast details to be announced at a later date.
Toulouse won a record fourth Heineken Cup crown in the all-French final at Stade de France in May with 2006 and 2010 finalists Biarritz Olympique who start their challenge on the road at 1998 winners Bath Rugby.
The opening weekend sees English Premiership champions Leicester Tigers travelling to Italian champions Benetton Treviso while French champions ASM Clermont Auvergne are home to Saracens with the Ospreys travelling to tournament newcomers Toulon.
Fellow Heineken Cup debutants Racing-Metro 92 and Aironi Rugby both face away Irish tests, at 2009 champions Leinster and Ulster Rugby respectively, with reigning Amlin Challenge Cup champions Cardiff Blues home to Edinburgh.
Pool 1
Cardiff Blues
Northampton Saints
Edinburgh
Castres Olympique
|
Pool 2
Leinster
ASM Clermont Auvergne
Saracens
Racing Metro 92
|
Pool 3
Munster
Ospreys
London Irish
RC Toulon
|
Pool 4
Olympique Pays Basque
Bath Rugby
Ulster
Aironi Rugby
|
Pool 5
Leicester Tigers
Scarlets
Perpignan
Benetton Treviso
|
Pool 6
Toulouse
London Wasps
Glasgow Warriors
Newport Gwent Dragons
|
THE TIERS (with ERC European Ranking points):
TIER 1
29 – Munster
27 – Toulouse
25 – Leinster
23 – Leicester Tigers
20 – Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque
20 – Cardiff Blues
TIER 2
19 – London Wasps
15 – ASM Clermont Auvergne
15 – Ospreys
15 – Northampton Saints
14 – Bath Rugby
12 – Scarlets
TIER 3
11 – Perpignan
11 – London Irish
11 – Saracens
8 – Ulster Rugby
7 – Glasgow Warriors
6 – Edinburgh
TIER 4
6 – Newport Gwent Dragons
4 – Benetton Treviso
4 – Castres Olympique
4 – RC Toulon
Aironi Rugby
Racing-Metro 92