Last season is barely in the books and the World Cup looms large on the horizon, but the Champions Cup will grab the headlines tomorrow as the draw for next year’s tournament takes place in Switzerland.
Leinster may be without a permanent head coach in place, but by tomorrow afternoon they, along with Munster and Ulster, will know the size of the task awaiting them in Europe next season.
With seedings in the revamped competition now based upon finishing positions in domestic leagues rather than past European records, three-times winners Leinster, by virtue of their fifth-place finish in the Pro12, will be among the third seeds, almost guaranteeing that whichever pool they land will earn the unwanted Group of Death label.
In what is a rather complex affair, Munster, who are the best placed of the Irish contenders, and Ulster must await the results of a preliminary draw between domestic runners-up Bath, Clermont Auvergne and Munster to see which two teams join champions Saracens, Stade Francais and Glasgow Warriors in Pot 1.
If Munster are the unlucky odd men out, then Ulster, who finished fourth in the Pro12, will join Anthony Foley’s outfit in the second tier, otherwise the northerners will be placed in Pot 3 with Leinster.
Once the seedings are set the 20 teams will be drawn into five pools of four, with the group winners and three top runners-up reaching the quarter-finals.
As you can see below, whatever way things pan out, all three Irish sides seem almost certain to face extremely tough tasks to reach the last eight, with champions Toulon – and new signing Paul O’Connell in the second group.
Pot 1: Saracens, Stade Francais, Glasgow Warriors, plus two from Bath, Munster and Clermont Auvergne.
Pot 2: Northampton, Toulon, Ospreys, plus one from Bath/Munster/Clermont, plus one from Ulster/Toulouse/Leicester
Pot 3: Exeter, Racing Metro, Leinster plus two from Ulster/Toulouse/Leicester
Pot 4: Wasps, Oyonnax, Bordeaux-Begles, Scarlets, Treviso
Yes, it is that complicated, but the upshot is that Leinster and Ulster could end up in a murderous pool containing Saracens, Toulon and Wasps, while if Munster do end up as top seeds, they could welcome former captain O’Connell back to Thomond Park as a visitor.
Meanwhile, Connacht will be among the top seeds for the Challenge Cup after their heartbreaking Champions Cup play-off defeat.
Both draws will be broadcast live from 1:15pm on epcrugby.com.
