Newport Gwent Dragons prop Adam Black watched the Heineken Cup Pool Draw live this morning as the Dragons were selected in Pool 5 with Toulouse, Bath Rugby and Glasgow Warriors for the 2008 / 09 Heineken Cup.
ERC Chairman Jean-Pierre Lux conducted the draw using the new merit-based ERC European Ranking system based on the qualified teams' performances over the past four seasons in the Heineken Cup and knock-out stages of the European Challenge Cup.
The 24 teams who have qualified for the 2008 / 2009 competition were graded into four Tiers of six teams each with each of the six Pools having one team from each of the four Tier levels.
While defending champions and Ranked 1 Munster will have, Sale Sharks, ASM Clermont Auvergne and Montauban in their group, No 2 Ranked side and 2008 finalists Toulouse will be up against Bath Rugby, Newport Gwent Dragons and Glasgow Warriors in Pool 5.
POOL 1: Munster, Sale Sharks, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Montauban
POOL 2: London Wasps, Leinster, Castres Olympique, Edinburgh
POOL 3: Leicester Tigers, Perpignan, Ospreys, Benetton Treviso
POOL 4: Stade Francais Paris, Llanelli Scarlets, Ulster Rugby, Harlequins
POOL 5: Toulouse, Bath Rugby, Newport Gwent Dragons, Glasgow Warriors
POOL 6: Biarritz Olympique, Gloucester Rugby, Cardiff Blues, Rugby Calvisano
Experienced Dragons prop Adam Black commented:
“It’s a pretty tough draw which reflects the intensity of the tournament in Europe. This is the kind of intensity that we relish here at the Dragons and I’m sure we can be more competitive in the coming season. I am looking forward to the experience, skill and energy that the new signings will bring to the squad.”
Dragons Chief Executive Gethin Jenkins is pleased with the draw yet appreciates the challenge ahead for the team. He said:
"I am reasonably pleased with the draw. With the way the draw is structured, you are always going to come up against one really big side and they don't come much bigger than this year's finalists and three times winners Toulouse."
"The Heineken Cup is a fantastic competition which everyone here wants to be a part of and we are looking forward to our European adventure. It is a tough competition and we'll take each game as it comes and hope we are still in the running for the quarter-finals in the final round of the pool matches."
