Heineken Cup draw

[GalwayBayBoy]

Pool 1
Benetton Treviso, London Irish, USA Perpignan, Newport Gwent Dragons

Pool 2
Ospreys, Gloucester Rugby, Bourgoin, Ulster Rugby

Pool 3
Stade Francais Paris, Bristol Rugby, Cardiff Blues, Harlequins

Pool 4
Glasgow Warriors, Saracens, Biarritz Olympique, Viadana

Pool 5
London Wasps, Clermont Auvernge, Llanelli Scarlets, Munster

Pool 6
Leinster, Leicester Tigers, Toulouse, Edinburgh Rugby

Bad news for Munster and Leinster who are both in groups of death. In comparison look how weak pools 1, 3 and 4 are.

[Gnevin]

So much for leinster  being a seeded team, thats a poxy draw

[Dinny Breen]

FFS, terribe draw for Leinster, top seeds my b*llix....

The timing of the fixtures will be crucial, hopefully we'll have our home against Leicster and Toulouse in the final three games...

[Gnevin]

FFS, terribe draw for Leinster, top seeds my b*llix....

The timing of the fixtures will be crucial, hopefully we'll have our home against Leicster and Toulouse in the final three games...

More if Toulouse are still in with a chance by the time Leinster play them away , they are known for fielding crap when qualification looks even the slight bit dodgy

[AZOffaly]

Brutal draws for Leinster and Munster. Clairmont-Auverne are a good side, and did very well in France this year. A lot depends on how they approach Europe though I suppose. They might be another Bourgoin. Wasps and Llanelli speak for themselves.

Lenster have a horrible one as well. Leicester and Toulouse are bad enough, but Edinburgh wouldn't be too bad either. I think they have a decent record against Leinster.

Ulster got the handiest Irish draw with Gloucester, Ospreys and Bourgoin, but again it's not easy.

[magpie seanie]

Having Italian teams in this makes a joke of it. The top two in those groups virtually are guaranteed to go through. 8 groups of 4 would be a bit more sensible wouldn't it? I know dates are an issue.

[Gnevin]

Having Italian teams in this makes a joke of it. The top two in those groups virtually are guaranteed to go through. 8 groups of 4 would be a bit more sensible wouldn't it? I know dates are an issue.

You have to give them a chance some time , the same was said when the Italians got in to the 6 nations and the way the Scottish are going you could nearly say the same about them

[INDIANA]

short season all round.
munster with a lot of changes next year needed a a softest draw- a big ask to be honest.
leinster won't beat either lecesiter or toulouse away and i wouldn't put money on them at home either - no chance in my view.
short season all round though ulster have a good chance - in a world cup year we needed to ebin groups  1-3-4.

[AZOffaly]

World Cup shouldn't affect this. When are the HEC fixtures starting? I presume the World Cup will be over?

[AZOffaly]

Full Draw

The following is the draw for the 2007/2008 ERC Heineken European Cup:

POOL 1: Benetton Treviso, London Irish, Perpignan, Newport Gwent Dragons

POOL 2: Ospreys, Gloucester Rugby, Bourgoin, Ulster Rugby

POOL 3:Stade Francais Paris, Bristol Rugby, Cardiff Blues, Harlequins

POOL 4:Glasgow Warriors, Saracens, Biarritz Olympique, Viadana

POOL 5:London Wasps, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Llanelli Scarlets, Munster

POOL 6:Leinster, Leicester Tigers, Toulouse, Edinburgh Rugby

[AZOffaly]

Ooops, Sorry GBB. I didn't realise you had posted the full draw already.

[Spiritof98]

Ulster were seeded well last year after the Celtic league win and suffered a similar group of Death like leicester, I would like to see ulster progress in the comp, they will only be known as the team who won without the English teams.

[TORGAEL]

Brutal draw for both Leinster & Munster.....what happened to the seeding ?

[Gnevin]

This often happens bars the Italian teams most team could beat anyone on their day . Which is why i find this so much better than the "Champions league" with which has far to many weak teams now

[Dinny Breen]

In fairness of the last 9 groups with Italian teams, only 3 have provided the best-runners up but I'd still take an Italian team any day of the week..