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As it happenedended

Champions Cup rugby draw: Pool stage confirmed as Saracens face Munster, Exeter drawn with Glasgow

Re-live the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup draws from Lausanne

Jack de Menezes
Wednesday 19 June 2019 09:19 EDT
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The draws for next season's European Champions Cup and Challenge Cup were made on Wednesday afternoon to throw up a daunting campaign for reigning champion Saracens, as they were placed alongside two-time winners Munster and recent finalists Racing 92, as well as Welsh side Ospreys.

Having won the 2018/19 Champions Cup final last month against Leinster, Saracens' reward was arguably the toughest pool drawn out of the five that will make up next season's European group stage, which gets underway in mid-November following the Rugby World Cup. Elsewhere, Exeter Chiefs will take on Glasgow Warriors in pool two, resulting in Stuart Hogg heading back to his former club at the earliest opportunity, with two pair pooled alongside La Rochelle and Sale Sharks.

Pool one sees beaten finalists Leinster take on Lyon, Northampton Saints and Bentton Rugby, wile in pool three recently-crowned Challenge Cup winners Clermont Auvergne will face Ulster, Harlequins and Bath. In pool five, Toulouse take on Gloucester, Connacht and Montpellier. Re-live how the draw was made.

Follow the live draw below.

Champions Cup teams

England: Saracens, Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester, Northampton Saints, Harlequins, Bath, Sale Sharks.

France: Toulouse, Clermont Auvergne, Lyon, La Rochelle, Racing 92, Montpellier.

Italy: Benetton

Ireland: Leinster, Munster, Ulster, Connacht

Scotland: Glasgow Warriors

Wales: Ospreys

Challenge Cup teams

England: Wasps, Bristol Bears, Worcester Warriors, Leicester Tigers, London Irish.

France: Castres, Stade Francais, Toulon, Bordeaux-Begles, Pau, Agen, Bayonne, Brive.

Italy: Zebre

Scotland: Edinburgh

Wales: Scarlets, Cardiff Blues, Dragons

Continental Shield qualifiers: Enisei-STM, Rugby Calvisano

Jack de Menezes19 June 2019 13:29

And we're underway with the main event.

Here we go with the Champions Cup draw...

Jack de Menezes19 June 2019 13:30

Here's a reminder of the 20 teams who feature in next season's Champions Cup:

Jack de Menezes19 June 2019 13:31

Once again, a preliminary draw determines the seedings for the draw, which is:

Tier One: Saracens, Leinster, Toulouse, Clermont Auvergne, Exeter Chiefs

Tier Two: Gloucester, Munster, Lyon, Glasgow Warriors, Ulster

Tier Three: Harlequins, Connact, Racing 92, Northampton Saints, La Rochelle

Tier Four: Bath, Benetton, Montpellier, Sale Sharks, Ospreys

Jack de Menezes19 June 2019 13:34

Clermont and Exeter join the three league champions in the top tier, with Glasgow and Ulster the lucky teams making it into tier two. It means a daunting prospect for Northampton and La Rochelle...

Jack de Menezes19 June 2019 13:35

Right then, here we go with the main event. Tier one is up first...

Jack de Menezes19 June 2019 13:35

Toulouse are drawn into Pool 5:

Pool 1: 

Pool 2: 

Pool 3: 

Pool 4: 

Pool 5: Toulouse

Jack de Menezes19 June 2019 13:36

Exeter Chiefs are drawn into Pool 2:

Pool 1: 

Pool 2: Exeter Chiefs

Pool 3: 

Pool 4: 

Pool 5: Toulouse

Jack de Menezes19 June 2019 13:37

Clermont Auvergne are drawn into Pool 3:

Pool 1: 

Pool 2: Exeter Chiefs

Pool 3: Clermont Auvergne

Pool 4: 

Pool 5: Toulouse

Jack de Menezes19 June 2019 13:37

Saracens are drawn into Pool 4:

Pool 1: 

Pool 2: Exeter Chiefs

Pool 3: Clermont Auvergne

Pool 4: Saracens

Pool 5: Toulouse

Jack de Menezes19 June 2019 13:37

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