Biarritz lifted the Amlin Challenge Cup last season © Getty Images

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Tournaments/Tours: Amlin Challenge Cup | Amlin Challenge Cup

Teams: England | France | Romania | Spain | Wales

The groups have been announced for next season's Amlin Challenge Cup with Aviva Premiership duo Gloucester and London Irish paired in the same pool.

The draw means the Premiership duo will face a tough ask to get out of their group with them joined by Bordeaux-Begles and Mont-de-Marsan in Pool 1. The duo met in the final of the Challenge Cup back in 2006 with Gloucester taking the match 36-34 after extra time.

Other eye catching draws include the Worcester Warriors paired with Perpignan in Pool 2. The Warriors had to contend with Stade Francais last year and they will hope to fare better this time round after losing both of their clashes against the French giants.

In Pool 3, Wasps are matched with Bayonne in a repeat of last season's pool draw. While Wasps lost away in France 19-11, but they won the return leg back at Adams Park in convincing fashion 25-11. In Pool 5, Bath are paired with Italy's Calvisano, France's Agen and Romania's Bucharest Wolves.

The line up is completed by Pool 5 with Newcastle Falcons - if they retain their top flight status at the expense of London Welsh - joined with Stade Francais, Cavalieri and Top 14 new boys Grenoble.

Amlin Challenge Cup draw:
Pool 1: Gloucester, London Irish, Bordeaux-Begles, Mont-de-Marsan
Pool 2: Perpignan, Worcester Warriors, Rovigo, Bizkaia Gernika
Pool 3: London Wasps, Newport Gwent Dragons, Bayonne, Mogliano
Pool 4: Bath, Calvisano, Agen, Bucharest Wolves
Pool 5: Stade Francais, Newcastle Falcons, Cavalieri, Grenoble

Round 1 - October 11/12/13/14, 2012
Round 2 - October 18/19/20/21, 2012
Round 3 - December 6/7/8/9, 2012
Round 4 - December 13/14/15/16, 2012
Round 5 - January 10/11/12/13, 2013
Round 6 - January 17/18/19/20, 2013
Quarter-finals - April 4/5/6/7, 2013
Semi-finals - April 25/26/27/28, 2013
Final - RDS, Friday, May 17, 2013