The Heineken Cup draw for the 2009/10 competition saw current champions Leinster paired with London Irish, French side Brive and the Scarlets from Wales. The competition for the title of European Champions will be as fierce as ever when battle commences later in 2009.
Heineken Cup Draw
Pool 1: Munster (Ireland), Perpignan (France), Northampton (England), Treviso (Italy)
Pool 2: Biarritz (France), Gloucester (England), Newport Gwent Dragons (Wales), Glasgow (Scotland)
Pool 3: Leicester (England, Ospreys (Wales), Clermont Auvergne (France), Viadana (Italy)
Pool 4: Bath (England), Stade Francias (France), Ulster (Ireland), Edinburgh (Scotland)
Pool 5: Toulouse (France), Cardiff Blues (Wales), Sale (England), Harlequins (England)
Pool 6: Leinster (Ireland), London Irish (England), Scarlets (Wales), Brive (France)
Heineken Cup Fixture Dates
Round One: 9-11 October 09
Round Two: 16-18 October 09
Round Three: 11-13 December 09
Round Four: 18-20 December 09
Round Five: 15-17 January 10
Round Six: 22-24 January 10
Quarter Finals: 9-11 April 10
Semi-Finals: 1-2 May 10
Final: 22 May 10
Heineken Cup Groups
Pool 1
Defeated semi finalists in the 2008/09 competition, Munster will start as favourites to win Pool 1. They will face a stiff challenge from Perpignan who were crowned domestic champions of France in 2009. Northampton earned their place in the Heineken Cup by winning the 2009 European Challenge trophy. The outsiders in the pool will be Italian side Treviso.
Pool 2
Biarritz are the seeded team in Pool 2 and will be confident of progressing. English side Gloucester and Newport Gwent Dragons will prove highly competitive and Glasgow, although least fancied, can prove difficult opponents on home soil.
Pool 3
Beaten by Leinster in the 2009 final, top seed Leicester has every incentive for a strong challenge in the competition. They will be confident of top spot despite the presence of Clermont Auvergne and Ospreys. Viadana from Italy are unlikely to provide stern opposition for their three pool companions.
Pool 4
Bath and Stade Francais are strong favourites to emerge from Pool 4 with the games between these two likely to decide who finishes top. Ulster and Edinburgh will be competitive in home matches but may struggle on the road.
Pool 5
This could be regarded as the 'Group of Death'. Toulouse are renowned for their Heineken Cup exploits and Cardiff Blues were semi finalists in 2009. Both sides would normally expect to qualify for the latter stages with relative comfort but the presence of two English sides, Sale and Harlequins, make this a very difficult group to predict. It is hard to see any side winning all their games and this grouping will provide an intriguing and exciting series of matches.
Pool 6
Reigning champions and top seeds Leinster will prove formidable opponents in Pool 6. The confidence gained from their 2009 victory added to their physical power make them favourites for top spot. However an emerging London Irish side, defeated in the English Premiership final in 2009, will be difficult and dangerous challengers. Brive and Scarlets are teams not to be underestimated in what will no doubt prove another highly competitive pool.
Heineken Cup 2009/10
The final of the Heineken Cup will be played on 22 May 2010 at Stade de France in Paris, the first time in nine years the country has hosted the climax of the competition. It will a fitting setting for one of rugby unions greatest occasions and is sure to be contested by two of the finest club sides in the northern hemisphere.
References
BBC Sport
European Rugby
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