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Champions clash to open Heineken Cup

30/07/2007

The winners of last season's Heineken Cup, Wasps, will open their title defence against 2006 winners Munster during the opening weekend's fixtures.

Competition organisers European Rugby Cup made the draw for the games in the pool stage of the tournament, which kicks off in the second weekend of November.

The opening fixtures also see 2007 beaten finalists Leicester Tigers, who were gunning for an unprecedented treble last season, taking on Irish top seeds Leinster in Dublin in pool six.

The first matches in this season's competition will take place on Friday November 9th when Perpignan host Welsh side Newport Gwent Dragons at Stade Aime Giral in pool one, while 1999 champions Ulster take on Gloucester at Ravenhill in pool two.

Welsh top side Ospreys launch their Heineken Cup campaign with a home tie against French club Bourgin, while Scottish champions Glasgow Warriors open against English side Saracens at Vicarage Road.

Italy's number one representatives Benetton Treviso also have an away fixture to open their European schedule, as they travel to the Madejski Stadium in Reading to face London Irish, and French champions Stade Francais open against Harlequins.

Heineken Cup pools, 2006/07:Pool One: Benetton Treviso; London Irish; Perpignan; Newport Gwent Dragons
Pool Two: Ospreys; Gloucester; Bourgoin; Ulster
Pool Three: Stade Francais; Bristol; Cardiff Blues; Harlequins
Pool Four: Glasgow Warriors; Saracens; Biarritz; Viadana
Pool Five: London Wasps; Clermont Auvergne; Llanelli Scarlets; Munster
Pool Six: Leinster; Leicester Tigers; Toulouse; Edinburgh

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