Draw for H Cup / Champions Cup 2019

[Triskaidekaphobia]

Booked Coventry and Bath over December just in case !.

2015/2016 season we had Bath, Wasps and Toulon in our group. The back to back games were against Toulon.

Might as well book Toulouse as well while you're at it Footrush

[paddyor]

No. It's totally a matter between Broadcasters and the teams. Teams with the biggest clout or advertising spend have most influence with Broadcasters and as we invariable bring a game to Aviva with 52k capacity in weekend before Christmas, we usually get a fairly free hand from Broadcasters as to who we choose for back-to-back games. The French broadcasters, Bein, tend to target their blockbuster games for Sunday afternoon so they usually do a deal with BT / Sky to support whichever games they want to split on a Sat. e.g.Clermont v Sarries @ 16.15 on Sunday was Bein's big game in the Christmas round last season.

Tends to dictate the order of the games as well IIRC. Why we usually end up with 2 away games on the bounce in 2 and 3.

[Triskaidekaphobia]

Last year, we had to wait until August 22nd for the fixture dates. Hope they can manage it sooner this year.

[Ruckedtobits]

Tough, tough draw. Hard to see an easy pool though except maybe Munster's.

Possibly just a small element of tongue-in-cheek?

That looks like one of the most even draws in many years.

Anybody who thinks Sarries have it easy might want to review the Lyon displays in the Top14 barrage games. And if Glasgow can hang on to their Coaching ticket, it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see a big scalp taken at home by the Warriors.

Racing92, Scarlets, Leicester & Ulster includes two "weaker" clubs with history in the competition for formidable home records.

Castres, Exeter and Munster are three teams with huge pride in their local support and composition. Again, very strong home records.

Montpelier, Toulon, Edinburgh and Newcastle, anybody bet that Cockers and Richards won't have an ambush planned for one of the big boys?

Our Pool is as tough as we would want. A couple of Clubs with very strong European pedigrees, but slightly off their strongest Squads at the moment.

Without trying to be cocky, the reality is that nobody fancied getting Leinster in their Pool. The three teams we've been drawn are teams that we respect, based on historical games against them, but don't fear because of particular super-stars in their Squads.

Certainly better than last Season's prospects on the day of the Draw.

[paddyor]

Last year, we had to wait until August 22nd for the fixture dates. Hope they can manage it sooner this year.

They said it's a few(2) weeks after the last leagues fixture list is announced. Think ours was late last year because of the expansion.

[paddyor]

Tough, tough draw. Hard to see an easy pool though except maybe Munster's.

Possibly just a small element of tongue-in-cheek?

That looks like one of the most even draws in many years.

Anybody who thinks Sarries have it easy might want to review the Lyon displays in the Top14 barrage games. And if Glasgow can hang on to their Coaching ticket, it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see a big scalp taken at home by the Warriors.

Racing92, Scarlets, Leicester & Ulster includes two "weaker" clubs with history in the competition for formidable home records.

Castres, Exeter and Munster are three teams with huge pride in their local support and composition. Again, very strong home records.

Montpelier, Toulon, Edinburgh and Newcastle, anybody bet that Cockers and Richards won't have an ambush planned for one of the big boys?

Our Pool is as tough as we would want. A couple of Clubs with very strong European pedigrees, but slightly off their strongest Squads at the moment.

Without trying to be cocky, the reality is that nobody fancied getting Leinster in their Pool. The three teams we've been drawn are teams that we respect, based on historical games against them, but don't fear because of particular super-stars in their Squads.

Certainly better than last Season's prospects on the day of the Draw.

I'll take the bet on Richards. They operate on an extremely modest budget by comparison to either of them. The qualified for the playoffs by the skin of their teeth(no. of wins) over Tigers. I think they'll be doing well to win one game to be honest.

[curates_egg]

Cassoulet, cassoulet, cassoulet, cassoulet, cassoulet.

I'm not sure if Toulouse is the best away venue as a rugby fan, but it's up there.

[footrush]

Booked Coventry and Bath over December just in case !.

2015/2016 season we had Bath, Wasps and Toulon in our group. The back to back games were against Toulon.

Might as well book Toulouse as well while you're at it Footrush

Bath always a difficult place to get somewhere to stay !.

[leinsterfan100]

Booked Coventry and Bath over December just in case !.

2015/2016 season we had Bath, Wasps and Toulon in our group. The back to back games were against Toulon.

Might as well book Toulouse as well while you're at it Footrush

Yes, the last time we had Bath, Wasps and a French team beginning with 'Toul' in our group, we all know how that ended up!

I am hopeful the outcome will be different this time around.

[Barry]

From the Irish Times article on the draw :-

Simon Zebo will enjoy a swift return to Thomond Park along with another former Munster legend Donnacha Ryan after Racing 92 were drawn against Johann van Graan’s side in Pool 2. Premiership sides Exeter and Gloucester make up the pool.

[leinsterfan100]

I see Pool 3 is the artificial pitch group!!

[Twist]

Lein, Wasps, Toulouse, Bath would be a cracker of a group also. Some old foes there!

Hope you stuck a few quid on that!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[D4surfer]

From the Irish Times article on the draw :-

Simon Zebo will enjoy a swift return to Thomond Park along with another former Munster legend Donnacha Ryan after Racing 92 were drawn against Johann van Graan’s side in Pool 2. Premiership sides Exeter and Gloucester make up the pool.

Someone must have contacted Johnny Watterson as he has now corrected it.

[wixfjord]

Players in and out for next season from Wiki.

A lot of turnover in those Bath and Wasps squads. Wouldn't be too fearful of going to the Rec or Coventry first up.

Bath

Players In
New Zealand Jackson Willison from England Worcester Warriors[3]
Argentina Lucas Noguera Paz from Argentina Jaguares[4]
France Victor Delmas from France Colomiers[5][6]
England Darren Atkins promoted from Academy[7]
England Ruaridh McConnochie from England England Sevens[8]
Wales Jamie Roberts from England Harlequins[9]
England Will Chudley from England Exeter Chiefs[10]
England Guy Mercer from Wales Ospreys return from season-long loan[11]
England Joe Cokanasiga from England London Irish[12]
England Alex Davies from England Yorkshire Carnegie[13]


Players Out
England Matt Banahan to England Gloucester[14]
Wales Josh Lewis to Wales Dragons[15]
Australia Ben Tapuai to England Harlequins[16]
England Nick Auterac to England Harlequins[17]
England James Phillips to England Sale Sharks[18]
Australia Nathan Charles to Australia Melbourne Rebels[19]
England Rory Jennings to England London Scottish[20]
England Will Homer to England Jersey Reds[21]
England Kane Palma-Newport to France Colomiers[22]
England Shaun Knight to France Rouen[23]
England Jeff Williams released[24]

Wasps


Players In
England Brad Shields from New Zealand Hurricanes[183]
New Zealand Lima Sopoaga from New Zealand Highlanders[184]
England Joe Atkinson from England London Scottish[185]
England Ross Neal from England London Scottish[186]
England Michael Le Bourgeois from England Bedford Blues[187]
England Ben Morris from England Nottingham[188]
England Billy Searle from England Bristol Bears[189]
New Zealand Ambrose Curtis from New Zealand Manawatu[190]
England Charlie Matthews from England Harlequins[191]
England Tom West promoted from Academy[192]
England Will Stuart promoted from Academy[193]
South Africa Nizaam Carr from South Africa Stormers[194]
England Kieran Brookes from England Northampton Saints[195]

Players Out
Ireland Marty Moore to Ireland Ulster[196]
England Guy Thompson to England Leicester Tigers[107]
England Sam Jones retired[197]
England Guy Armitage to England Ealing Trailfinders[198]
England Will Owen to England Nottingham[199]
England Danny Cipriani to England Gloucester[200]
England James Haskell to England Northampton Saints[201]
England Matt Symons to England Harlequins[202]
England Paul Doran-Jones released[203]
England Kyle Eastmond released[204]
Ireland Brendan Macken released[205]

Toulouse

Players In
France Pierre Fouyssac from France Agen[248]
France Alban Placines from France Biarritz[249]
New Zealand Jerome Kaino from New Zealand Blues[250]
New Zealand Pita Ahki from Ireland Connacht[251]
France Theo Belan from France Lyon[252]
France Pierre Gayraud from France Bordeaux[253]
France Maxime Mermoz from England Newcastle Falcons[254]

Players Out
France Yann David to France Castres[255]
France Jean-Marc Doussain to France Lyon[256]
Australia Tala Gray to France Stade Francais[257]
South Africa Wandile Mjekevu to France Perpignan[258]
France Florian Fritz retired[259]
France David Roumieu retired[260]
France Yoann Maestri to France Stade Francais[261]
France Gaël Fickou to France Stade Francais[262]

[outcast eddie]

What's the deal with Brendan Macken, retiring or just struggling to find a club?

[ribs]

Tough, tough draw. Hard to see an easy pool though except maybe Munster's.

Possibly just a small element of tongue-in-cheek?

That looks like one of the most even draws in many years.

Anybody who thinks Sarries have it easy might want to review the Lyon displays in the Top14 barrage games. And if Glasgow can hang on to their Coaching ticket, it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see a big scalp taken at home by the Warriors.

Racing92, Scarlets, Leicester & Ulster includes two "weaker" clubs with history in the competition for formidable home records.

Castres, Exeter and Munster are three teams with huge pride in their local support and composition. Again, very strong home records.

Montpelier, Toulon, Edinburgh and Newcastle, anybody bet that Cockers and Richards won't have an ambush planned for one of the big boys?

Our Pool is as tough as we would want. A couple of Clubs with very strong European pedigrees, but slightly off their strongest Squads at the moment.

Without trying to be cocky, the reality is that nobody fancied getting Leinster in their Pool. The three teams we've been drawn are teams that we respect, based on historical games against them, but don't fear because of particular super-stars in their Squads.

Certainly better than last Season's prospects on the day of the Draw.

I'd suggest writing that again but focusing only on abilities and history to win away from home. That will show the easier groups. Of course every team will try to win at home.

[Ruckedtobits]

Pool 1: Leinster, Wasps, Toulouse, Bath: Leinster, Toulouse
Pool 2: Castres, Exeter Chiefs, Munster, Gloucester: Castres, Munster
Pool 3: Saracens, Glasgow Warriors, Lyon, Cardiff Blues: Sarries, Lyon
Pool 4: Scarlets, Racing 92, Leicester Tigers, Ulster: Racing, Scarlets
Pool 5: Montpellier, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Toulon

:Toulon, M'pellier

This instinctive ranking of the top two in each Group is done without trying yet to figure out which 8 will come through to Quarter-finals. Clearly, many within the Clubs not included will believe that they can upset the initial ranking, but only Exeter fall into the category of having a strong case for inclusion.

OTOH, these predictions may be merely a translation of current perception of the state of Premiership and English international rugby standards. Time will tell.

[curates_egg]

Pool 1: Leinster, Wasps, Toulouse, Bath: Leinster, Toulouse
Pool 2: Castres, Exeter Chiefs, Munster, Gloucester: Castres, Munster
Pool 3: Saracens, Glasgow Warriors, Lyon, Cardiff Blues: Sarries, Lyon
Pool 4: Scarlets, Racing 92, Leicester Tigers, Ulster: Racing, Scarlets
Pool 5: Montpellier, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Toulon

:Toulon, M'pellier

This instinctive ranking of the top two in each Group is done without trying yet to figure out which 8 will come through to Quarter-finals. Clearly, many within the Clubs not included will believe that they can upset the initial ranking, but only Exeter fall into the category of having a strong case for inclusion.

OTOH, these predictions may be merely a translation of current perception of the state of Premiership and English international rugby standards. Time will tell.

I'd have Glasgow > Lyon; Exeter > Castres and - based on their past few seasons - not assume Toulouse will finish second in our group - although they have signed a couple of good players.

[paddyor]

Hadn't considered the Girve angle with Bath. Damn. He'll know us inside out.

[BlueBlue]

I also think its one of the most even draws I've seen in years. I'm happy with Leinster group. If I was asked for a word to describe Leinster's pool, I'd say glamorous.