THERE will be some familiar faces in the Champions Cup next season following the pool draw.
Leinster will face La Rochelle for the sixth time in five-and-a-half years.
Leo Cullen’s men lost the 2021 semi-final and finals in the two following seasons but have since beaten Ronan O’Gara’s men three times, but only one of them was in a knockout game.
They will also face Leicester for the fifth season in a row as well as playing Harlequins, who avenged their 2024 semi-final defeat by turning the tables at the same stage of the competition this season.
Bayonne and Stormer complete Pool Three.
In Pool Two, Munster will come up against their former coach Johann van Graan when they lock horns with Bath Rugby.
They will also face Toulon, Castres, Gloucester and Edinburgh.
On paper, Connacht look to have fared slightly better than Ulster in the draw for the Challenge Cup.
Champions Cup:
Pool 1: Toulouse, Clermont Auvergne, Sharks, Saracens, Glasgow Warriors, Sale
Pool 2: Bath Rugby, RC Toulon, Munster Rugby, Castres Olympique, Edinburgh Rugby, Gloucester Rugby
Pool 3: Leinster Rugby, Leicester Tigers, Harlequins, La Rochelle, Aviron Bayonnais, DHL Stormers
Pool 4: Bordeaux Bègles, Scarlets, Bristol Bears, Section Paloise, Northampton Saints, Bulls
Challenge Cup:
Pool 1: Ospreys, Zebre Parma, Montpellier, Benetton Rugby, Racing 92, Connacht Rugby
Pool 2: Lyon, Newcastle Falcons, Dragons RFC, US Montauban, Lions, USAP
Pool 3: Toyota Cheetahs, Cardiff Rugby, Exeter Chiefs, Black Lion, Stade Francais, Ulster Rugby
