Toulouse to play three former winners in Champions Cup pool

Weather - London 8°C

Toulouse to play three former winners in Champions Cup pool

SPORTS 02.07.2024

Toulouse to play three former winners in Champions Cup pool / Photo: Glyn KIRK - AFP/File

Champions Cup holders Toulouse will face three former winners and the Sharks in next season's groups, after tournament organisers made the draw for the pool stages on Tuesday.

Change text size:

The French Top 14 champions beat Leinster 31-22 in May's final to claim a record sixth crown and will play Exeter, Leicester and Ulster in Pool 1, with Bordeaux-Begles and the Challenge Cup winners from South Africa the Sharks also in the group.

Teams will come up against all the sides in their pool apart from a club from the same league.

In Pool 2, Irish province Leinster will once again play La Rochelle in a repeat of the 2022 and 2023 finals.

The highlight of Pool 3 is a re-run of 2000's decider as Munster face Northampton while three-time winners Toulon are in Pool 4 alongside United Rugby Championship holders Glasgow.

In the second-tier Challenge Cup, French side Vannes, newly-promoted to the Top 14, are in Pool 3 in their debut season alongside Georgians Black Lion, French club Bayonne, Welsh side Scarlets, Scottish outfit Edinburgh and Gloucester from England.

The fixtures will be announced at a later date, with games to be played on the weekends of December 6-8, December 13-15, January 10-12 and January 17-19.

The Champions Cup final will be held on May 24 at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff, the city that hosted the first ever final in 1996.

The Challenge Cup's decider will take place in the same ground but on the previous day.

Champions Cup

Pool 2: Toulouse (FRA), Bordeaux-Begles (FRA), Sharks (RSA), Exeter (ENG), Leicester (ENG), Ulster (IRL)

Pool 2: Leinster (IRL), Clermont (FRA), La Rochelle (FRA), Bristol (ENG), Treviso (ITA), Bath (ENG)

Pool 3: Northampton (ENG), Munster (IRL), Bulls (RSA), Stade Francais (FRA), Saracens (ENG), Castres (FRA)

Pool 4: Glasgow (SCO), Racing 92 (FRA), Sale (ENG), Stormers (RSA), Toulon (FRA), Harlequins (ENG)

Challenge Cup

Pool 1: Cardiff (WAL), Connacht (IRL), Cheetahs (RSA), Perpignan (FRA), Lyon (FRA), Zebre (ITA) Pool 2: Montpellier (FRA), Pau (FRA), Newcastle (ENG), Dragons (WAL), Lions (RSA), Ospreys (WAL)

Pool 3: Vannes (FRA), Black Lion (GEO), Bayonne (FRA), Scarlets (WAL), Edinburgh (SCO), Gloucester (ENG)

K.McMillan--EWJ

Featured

Mets President David Stearns Expresses Confidence in Marcus Semien's Motivation

New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has identified Marcus Semien’s self-motivation as the primary factor in his potential recovery from an underwhelming debut season. Speaking at the general managers meetings in Las Vegas, Stearns affirmed that the team remains confident in Semien’s ability to improve, even as they evaluate other infield options for next year.

FA Cup Second-Round Draw Confirmed for Non-League and Midlands Clubs

The FA Cup second-round draw has been finalized, setting up crucial ties for non-league teams aiming to reach the third round proper. Several clubs from the Midlands, including Burton Albion and Kidderminster Harriers, have secured their next opponents following recent victories over lower-league opposition.

Panthers expected to begin 2027 NRL season away from new stadium

The new Penrith Stadium is expected to be ready in time for the opening round of the 2027 NRL season, but it’s still likely the Panthers is expected to be on the road for their early matches. There is no delay to the build of the new $309 million venue but there’s a lack of appetite for risk around weather delays through the summer.

Virginia overwhelms Arkansas 91-72 behind balanced scoring

WASHINGTON (AP) — Thijs De Ridder scored 16 points, one of five players in double figures for No. 9 Virginia as the Cavaliers routed No.

Change text size:

English Woman's Journal - Toulouse to play three former winners in Champions Cup pool