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Ryan Byrne/INPHO
From Russia With Love

Connacht heading to Russia in the Challenge Cup after pool stage draw

Pat Lam’s will travel over 2,000 miles to face the Russian Champions.

CONNACHT WILL FACE a nightmare away trip to Russia, after drawing new boys Enisei STM in Pool 1 of the Challenge Cup.

The Russian champions, who will play their home games in Sochi, 2,282 miles away from Galway, are joined by Newcastle Falcons and Brive in a competitive looking Pool 1, but a glance at the teams missed by Connacht would suggest they have don’t quite well.

Pay Lam’s side avoided big Tier 2 names Harlequins and Gloucester, instead drawing Top 14 side Brive.

Elsewhere, Bernard Jackman’s Grenoble have been placed in Pool 5, alongside last season’s runners up Edinburgh, London Irish and fellow Top 14 side Agen.

Pool 3 looks certain to be the group of death though, with Montpellier and Harlequins paired together, with both sides recruiting plenty of international stars this summer, while Cardiff Blues and Calvisano also join the Pool 3 party.

POOL 1

Connacht

Brive

Newcastle Falcons

Enisei-STM

POOL 2

Sale Sharks

Newport Gwent Dragons

Castres

Pau

POOL 3

Montpellier

Harlequins

Cardiff Blues

Calvisano

POOL 4

La Rochelle

Gloucester

Zebre

Worcester

POOL 5

Edinburgh

London Irish

Grenoble

Agen

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