2024/25 European Cup draw

[Puja]

Champions Cup:

Pool One: Toulouse, Bordeaux Begles, Sharks, Exeter Chiefs, Leicester Tigers, Ulster

Pool Two: Leinster, Clermont Auvergne, La Rochelle, Bristol Bears, Benetton, Bath

Pool Three: Northampton Saints, Munster, Bulls, Stade Francais, Saracens, Castres

Pool Four: Glasgow Warriors, Racing 92, Sale Sharks, Stormers, RC Toulon, Harlequins


Challenge Cup:

Pool One: Cardiff, Connacht, Cheetahs, Perpignan, Lyon, Zebre

Pool Two: Montpellier, Section Paloise, Newcastle Falcons, Dragons, Lions, Ospreys

Pool Three: FC Vannes, Black Lion, Bayonne, Scarlets, Edinburgh, Gloucester

[Puja]

I guess Leicester can't exactly complain about getting a shit draw again, after only scraping into the competition by the skin of our teeth and being seeded so low, but that really is something else. The stupid format means that there is still a slight chance to go through to the second round, depending on whether we play Sharks home or away, but it seems unlikely.

On the bright side, at least we're not playing bloody Leinster again.

Puja

[FKAS]

I guess Leicester can't exactly complain about getting a shit draw again, after only scraping into the competition by the skin of our teeth and being seeded so low, but that really is something else. The stupid format means that there is still a slight chance to go through to the second round, depending on whether we play Sharks home or away, but it seems unlikely.

On the bright side, at least we're not playing bloody Leinster again.

Puja

If we scrape through then Leinster will probably knock us out in the next round.

[Timbo]

I guess Leicester can't exactly complain about getting a shit draw again, after only scraping into the competition by the skin of our teeth and being seeded so low, but that really is something else. The stupid format means that there is still a slight chance to go through to the second round, depending on whether we play Sharks home or away, but it seems unlikely.

On the bright side, at least we're not playing bloody Leinster again.

Puja

If Cheika can actually start to get the best out of that squad then the other clubs can rightfully curse their luck a bit at drawing Leicester. You’d reasonably expect the bottom ranked Prem team to be a fair bit weaker in terms of talent & experience than this Tigers team. Roll out a tight 5 of Smith-Montoya-Cole-Chessum-Martin and you’d fancy your chances against anyone.

[FKAS]

I guess Leicester can't exactly complain about getting a shit draw again, after only scraping into the competition by the skin of our teeth and being seeded so low, but that really is something else. The stupid format means that there is still a slight chance to go through to the second round, depending on whether we play Sharks home or away, but it seems unlikely.

On the bright side, at least we're not playing bloody Leinster again.

Puja

If Cheika can actually start to get the best out of that squad then the other clubs can rightfully curse their luck a bit at drawing Leicester. You’d reasonably expect the bottom ranked Prem team to be a fair bit weaker in terms of talent & experience than this Tigers team. Roll out a tight 5 of Smith-Montoya-Cole-Chessum-Martin and you’d fancy your chances against anyone.

Yeah the Tigers side on paper could be pretty good if they are actually fit and available.

Smith, Montoya, Cole
Henderson, Martin
Chessum, Liebenburg, Reffell
JvP, Pollard
Kelly, Perese
OHC, Steward, Watson

Only Liebenburg would be uncapped from that 15, were he from any nation other than South Africa he would be capped.

Hopefully cause a few surprises though if we have to travel away to South Africa I wouldn't be surprised to see a much rotated squad head down.

[Which Tyler]

Vicious pool for Bath, but TF there's no SA teams in there, so I can be mildly disinterested due to the stupid format, rather than actively boycotting our matches.