European Rugby Champions Cup
Toulon face tough group for title defence
ESPN Staff
June 17, 2015
Toulon celebrate
Toulon celebrate© Stu Forster/Getty Images

Toulon have their work cut out if they are going to secure a fourth successive European crown, having been drawn in an extremely tough pool for next season's Champions Cup.

The defending champions - who were in the second pot of drawn teams - find themselves in Pool 5, alongside Bath, Leinster and Wasps.

All four sides in the group made it to the quarter-finals of the inaugural Champions Cup last season, with Toulon knocking out Leinster in the semi-finals.

Elsewhere, beaten finalists Clermont will not have it all their own way as they take on the Ospreys, Exeter and Bordeaux in Pool 2.

Saracens' hopes were ended by the Yellow Army in the semis last season, and they will begin their quest for a first continental title in Pool 1, alongside Ulster, Toulouse and Oyonnax.

Meanwhile, Leicester were drawn against newly-crowned Top 14 champions, Stade Francais, two-time champions Munster and Italian side Treviso in Pool 4. Northampton, clinically undone by Clermont in last season's last eight, begin their campaign in Pool 3 with Pro12 champions Glasgow, Racing 92 and Scarlets.

Earlier, in the Challenge Cup draw, defending champions Gloucester were drawn in Pool 4 alongside fellow Premiership outfit Worcester, La Rochelle and Zebre.

However, it is Pool 2 that could turn out to be the most intriguing group with Harlequins newboy Jamie Roberts guaranteed a return to the Cardiff Arms Park to face the Blues. Quins were also drawn against Montpellier and Calvisano.

Meanwhile, Newcastle were drawn in Pool 1 alongside Connacht, Brive and Enisei-STM. Sale, drawn in Pool 2 will face Newport Gwent Dragons, Castres and Pau, while, London Irish were put into Pool 5 with Edinburgh, Grenoble and Agen.

© ESPN Staff

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