Leinster were drawn in what might be considered the Heineken Champions Cup pool of death for next season’s premier European competition.
This season’s champions drew Wasps, Toulouse and Bath in Pool 1, four clubs that have previously won the trophy. It is the only one of the five pools which contains four teams that have previously been European champions.
In the draw, which took place in Lausanne, Switzerland on Wednesday, Munster in Pool 2, face this year’s Top 14 French champions Castres as well as Premiership sides Exeter and Gloucester.
It was Gloucester who suffered a 33-6 defeat against Munster in Limerick in what is now known as the miracle match in 2003.
The Irish side needed a four-try victory by a minimum margin of 27 points to reach the quarter-finals at Gloucester’s expense, which is exactly what happened.
Ulster, who earned a place in next season’s competition by virtue of beating Ospreys in a final playoff match at the end of last season, have been drawn against Welsh club Scarlets, French artistocrats Racing 92 and Leicester in Pool 4.
The draw for Pool 4 brings Donnacha Ryan and Simon Zebo back to Ireland to face Ulster. The former Munster secondrow, Ryan left for Racing 92 in May 2017, while Zebo announced his departure from Munster in January of this season and will line out for the Parisian club for the first time in the coming season.
Pool 3 contains twice winners Saracens, Glasgow, Lyon and Cardiff with pool 5 dominated by three times winners Toulon, who will play Montpellier, Newcastle and Edinburgh.
HEINEKEN CUP POOL DRAW 2018/2019
POOL 1
LEINSTER
Wasps
Toulouse
Bath
POOL 2
Castres
Exeter
MUNSTER
Gloucester
POOL 3
Saracens
Glasgow
Lyon
Cardiff Blues
POOL 4
Scarlets
Racing 92
Leicester
ULSTER
POOL 5
Montpellier
Newcastle
Edinburgh
Toulon
CHALLENGE CUP DRAW
POOL 1
Northampton
Clermont Auvergne
Dragons
Timisoar Saracens
POOL 2
Pau
Ospreys
Worcester
Stade Francais
POOL 3
Sale Sharks
CONNACHT
Bordeaux-Begles
Perpignan
POOL 4
La Rochelle
Zebre
Bristol
Enisei-STM
POOL 5
Benetton
Harlequins
Agen
Grenoble
