The draw took place today in Dublin at 11.15am and was seeded for the first time.  All 24 qualifying teams were split into four tiers based on performance over the past four seasons in the Heineken Cup and the knock-out stages of the Challenge Cup. Teams from the same Country were to be drawn in different Pools, although there are two French teams in one of the six pools due to numbers.

As European legends battle it out for a place in the Heineken Cup Quarter Finals, Ulster supporters will be able to experience live European rugby come alive at Ravenhill, watching Stade Francais, Llanelli Scarlets and Harlequins battle for position with the Ulster men.

Commenting on the draw Ulster Assistant Coach Steve Williams remarked;
“We’re really happy with the draw, there are no easy groups but we feel that this is a group that Ulster can get stuck into and perform well in.  Stade Francais are one of the big names in Europe and it will be very exciting for the boys to go to Paris to play them, they are a huge opponent and will make Ulster play to their best abilities and be judged against the best.”

“Harlequins are a team on the up, they have gone from strength to strength under Dean Richards and the rest of the coaching team and are quickly becoming a force in English rugby, and it will be a very competitive game when we meet them.  With Llanelli Scarlets it’s an old rival’s match, we have played each other many times in the past and play in the same league, so the pride will at stake and the competition tough when we meet.  Both teams know each other very well so the game will be a real tactical battle” continued Steve.

HEINEKEN DRAW TIERS:

Tier One seeds: Munster, Toulouse, Biarritz Olympique, Leicester Tigers, Stade Français Paris, London Wasps

Tier Two seeds: Leinster, Bath Rugby, Gloucester Rugby, Perpignan, Sale Sharks, Llanelli Scarlets

Tier Three seeds: Ospreys, Cardiff Blues, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Newport Gwent Dragons, Ulster Rugby, Castres Olympique

Tier Four seeds: Glasgow Warriors, Benetton Treviso, Edinburgh, Rugby Calvisano, Harlequins, Montauban

HEINEKEN CUP ROUNDS:

Round One: 10-12 October
Round Two: 17-19 October
Round Three: 5-7 December
Round Four: 12-14 December
Round Five: 16-18 January
Round Six: 23-25 January
Quarter-finals: 10-12 April
Semi-finals: 1-3 May
Final: 22-24 May (Murrayfield)

*Fixtures, dates and times are subject to late change