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Rugby Union

Wasps face "challenging" Heineken Cup pool

18/06/2008

Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan has described his side's group draw for the 2008/09 Heineken Cup as "challenging".

The Adams Park outfit have been placed alongside Irish club Leinster and Scottish side Edinburgh of the Magners League, as well as French Top 14 challengers Castres in pool two.

And McGeechan, who witnessed his side lift the Guinness Premiership trophy in May, said he is looking forward to the challenge of European competition next season.

"Ours is a challenging group, but that's what you'd expect from the Heineken Cup, as the top club competition in Europe," said the British and Irish Lions coach.

"We are looking at playing the Magners League champions, a resurgent Edinburgh under Andy Robinson, and a Castres team who are coming good in the French championship.

"Looking at the groups across the draw, they are all very well spread and there's no bad team, therefore our performances are going to have to be top draw."

Wasps head coach Shaun Edwards said he believes the newly-introduced seeding system, which placed the 2007 champions in the top tier of teams based on their past performance in the competition, will provide a more open tournament.

"I think the seeding system has delivered a much more even draw with exciting and challenging fixtures in every group, where often you can't predict the winner - our group being a great example of that," he said.

"There will be no easy games for us."