Tough Draw For Munster In Champions Cup
20th June 2018 By The Editor
The draw for the Heineken Champions Cup was made in Lausanne, Switzerland today and Munster were drawn with Castres Olympique, Exeter Chiefs and Gloucester.
Castres enter the competition as the French champions having defeated Montpellier 29-13 in the Top 14 final last month. Munster also faced the French side in last year’s competition and drew away before beating Castres at Thomond Park.
Exeter Chiefs were Premiership winners in 2016/17 and runners-up last year and will visit Thomond Park for the first time. The Devon club visit Irish Independent Park for a pre-season game on Friday, August 24 (7.30pm).
Gloucester, bolstered by the signing of Gerbrandt Grobler from Munster this summer, very nearly claimed the Challenge Cup last season but lost out to the Cardiff Blues in a thrilling final.
2018/19 Heineken Champions Cup Pools
Pool 1: Leinster Rugby, Wasps, Toulouse, Bath Rugby
Pool 2: Castres Olympique, Exeter Chiefs, Munster Rugby, Gloucester Rugby
Pool 3: Saracens, Glasgow Warriors, Lyon, Cardiff Blues
Pool 4: Scarlets, Racing 92, Leicester Tigers, Ulster Rugby
Pool 5: Montpellier, Newcastle Falcons, Edinburgh Rugby, RC Toulon
See the key fixture dates below with specific fixture details to be announced in the coming weeks.
EPCR key dates – 2018/19 season
Round 1: 12/13/14 October
Round 2: 19/20/21 October
Round 3: 7/8/9 December
Round 4: 14/15/16 December
Round 5: 11/12/13 January 2019
Round 6: 18/19/20
January 2019
Quarter-finals: 29/30/31 March 2019
Semi-finals: 19/20/21 April 2019
Heineken Champions Cup final: Saturday 11 May, St James’ Park