Champions Cup holders Saracens to face Munster, Racing 92 and Ospreys

Image: Saracens won a third Champions Cup when they beat Leinster in the final

Champions Cup holders Saracens have been drawn against Munster, Racing 92 and the Ospreys in next season's pool stages.

Saracens beat Munster at the semi-final stages in two of the last three Champions Cups, including last April as they won on to lift the trophy for a third time.

They meet in a difficult Pool 4, which also sees a return to Thomond Park for Simon Zebo and Donnacha Ryan.

Image: Simon Zebo will return to Munster with Racing 92

Ireland full-back Zebo left Munster for Paris last summer after eight years with the Irish province, and is their joint-record tryscorer in the European Cup with 23.

Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg also makes a quick return to Scotstoun after his new club Exeter Chiefs were drawn with Glasgow Warriors. Sale Sharks and Top 14 finalists La Rochelle complete Pool 2.

Advertisement

Premiership rivals Bath and Harlequins will contest Pool 3 alongside Clermont Auvergne and Ulster, while four-time European champions Leinster are joined in Pool 1 by Lyon, Northampton, and Benetton.

Image: Danny Cipriani's Gloucester will play Toulouse, Montpellier and Connacht

Pool 5 sees Gloucester and Connacht take Top 14 on heavyweights Toulouse and Montpellier.

Also See:

The pool stages begin in mid-November, two weeks after the Rugby World Cup final.

2019/20 Heineken Champions Cup draw

Pool 1: Leinster, Lyon, Northampton Saints, Benetton.

Pool 2: Exeter Chiefs, Glasgow Warriors, La Rochelle, Sale Sharks.

Pool 3: Clermont Auvergne, Ulster, Harlequins, Bath.

Pool 4: Saracens, Munster, Racing 92, Ospreys.

Pool 5: Toulouse, Gloucester, Connacht, Montpellier.

Outbrain