FORMER MUNSTER FLY-HALF Ronan O’Gara will face his home province for the second successive season after Rassie Erasmus’s side were drawn alongside Racing 92 in Pool 4 for the 2017/18 Champions Cup.
The Racing assistant coach is currently away in a coaching capacity on the Ireland summer tour to the USA and Japan.
However, when he turns his attention to a new club season he will begin preparation for Champions Cup games against Munster, Leicester — who were also in the same pool last season — and Castres.
Another interesting Munster v Racing angle will be the return of lock Donnacha Ryan to Thomond Park, following his recent move to Paris.
Leo Cullen’s Leinster have been handed a reasonable draw in Pool 3 with Exeter Chiefs the top seed in their group. They will also face off against Pro12 rivals Glasgow, who will be managed by highly-rated Chiefs coach Dave Rennie, at home and away, and renew acquaintances with Montpellier.
Third-tier team Ulster have a tricky assignment ahead but will at least be pleased to have avoided the obvious Group of Death; Pool 2 containing last season’s finalists Clermont Auvergne and Saracens, as well as the Ospreys and Northampton.
Les Kiss’s side have been pitted against the Wasps and La Rochelle, who finished top of their respective tables in France and England last season. with Harlequins completing Pool 1.
Reigning Pro12 champions Scarlets are the top-tier side in Pool 5, which also includes Toulon, Bath and Benetton.
Champions Cup draw
Pool 1
Wasps
La Rochelle
Ulster
Harlequins
Pool 2
ASM Clermont Auvergne
Saracens
Ospreys
Northampton
Pool 3
Exeter Chiefs
Leinster
Montpellier
Glasgow
Pool 4
Munster
Racing 92
Leicester
Castres
Pool 5
Scarlets
Toulon
Bath
Benetton
EPCR key dates – 2017/18 season
- Round 1: 12/13/14/15 October
- Round 2: 19/20/21/22 October
- Round 3: 7/8/9/10 December
- Round 4: 14/15/16/17 December
- Round 5: 11/12/13/14 January 2018
- Round 6: 18/19/20/21 January 2018
- Quarter-finals: 29/30/31 March – 1 April 2018
- Semi-finals: 20/21/22 April 2018
Champions Cup final: Saturday 12 May, San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao
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