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Wasps and Tigers face tough cup tasks

20/06/2007

London Wasps have been handed a tough group draw as they seek to defend their Heineken Cup title next season.

And fellow Guinness Premiership side Leicester also have a testing challenge after today's draw for the pool stages of the 2007/08 competition.

Wasps are drawn alongside France's ASM Clermont Auvergne, Welsh side Llanelli Scarlets and Irish side Munster in pool five.

Leicester, who were beaten by their English rivals 25-9 in last year's Twickenham final, have been grouped with Ireland's Leinster, French side Toulouse and Edinburgh in pool six.

Of the other English sides in this year's competition, Harlequins and Bristol are in pool three with Stade Francais Paris and Cardiff Blues for company.

London Irish will face Italian side Benetton Treviso, French outfit Perpignan and Newport Gwent Dragons in pool one and will be hopeful of success after being drawn in arguably the weakest group.

In pool two Ospreys, who won the Magners League last season, and Gloucester, who topped the Guinness Premiership but lost out to Leicester in the playoff final, are set to lock horns along with Ulster and French side Bourgoin.

Pool four pits Challenge Cup semi-finalists Saracens and Biarritz, who reached the Heineken Cup quarter-finals last year, with Glasgow Warriors and Italian debutants Viadana.

The first round of matches will take place on November 9th, 10th and 11th and the final will be held at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on the weekend of May 24th/ 25th next year.

Heineken Cup 2007/08 pools

Pool one: Benetton Treviso; London Irish; Perpignan; Newport Gwent Dragons
Pool two: Ospreys; Gloucester Rugby; Bourgoin; Ulster Rugby
Pool three: Stade Francais Paris; Bristol Rugby; Cardiff Blues; Harlequins
Pool four: Glasgow Warriors; Saracens; Biarritz Olympique; Viadana
Pool five: London Wasps; ASM Clermont Auvergne; Llanelli Scarlets; Munster
Pool six: Leinster; Leicester Tigers; Toulouse; Edinburgh Rugby

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