Reigning Heineken Cup champions, Leinster Rugby, have been drawn in Pool 5 of the 2012/13 tournament and will face ASM Clermont Auvergne, Scarlets and newcomers, Exeter Chiefs, as they attempt to win an unprecedented third title in a row.
The draw for European club rugby’s elite competition took place today (Tuesday, 12 June 2012) at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin where the 18th Heineken Cup final will be staged on Saturday, 18 May 2013 with a 5.00pm kick-off.
Last season’s Heineken Cup runners-up, Ulster Rugby, will be in Pool 4 alongside Northampton Saints, Glasgow Warriors and Castres Olympique, while two-time winners, Munster Rugby, are up against Edinburgh Rugby, Saracens and Racing Metro 92 in Pool 1.
Current English Premiership champions, Harlequins, are in Pool 3 with Biarritz Olympique, Connacht Rugby and Italian newcomers, Zebre.
In tandem with the draw, ERC also announced that the Amlin Challenge Cup final, which gets the Dublin 2013 finals weekend underway, will kick off at 8.00pm at the RDS on Friday, 17 May.
2012/13 Heineken Cup Pool Draw
Pool 1: Munster Rugby, Edinburgh Rugby, Saracens, Racing Metro 92
Pool 2: Toulouse, Leicester Tigers, Ospreys, Benetton Treviso
Pool 3: Biarritz Olympique, Harlequins, Connacht Rugby, Zebre
Pool 4: Northampton Saints, Ulster Rugby, Glasgow Warriors, Castres Olympique
Pool 5: Leinster Rugby, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Scarlets, Exeter Chiefs
Pool 6: Cardiff Blues, RC Toulon, Sale Sharks, Montpellier
2012/13 Heineken Cup Dates
Round 1 12/13/14 October 2012
Round 2 19/20/21 October 2012
Round 3 7/8/9 December 2012
Round 4 14/15/16 December 2012
Round 5 11/12/13 January 2013
Round 6 18/19/20 January 2013
Quarter-finals 5/6/7 April 2013
Semi-finals 26/27/28 April 2013
Dublin 2013 European club rugby finals
Amlin Challenge Cup final – RDS, Friday, 17 May 2013 (8.00pm)
Heineken Cup final– Aviva Stadium, Saturday, 18 May 2013 (5.00pm)
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