Chiefs in Pool Two for Europe

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs will tackle last season's beaten finalists ASM Clermont Auvergne in Pool Two of this season's European Champions Cup.

Having faced the Top 14 side back in the 2012/13 season, Rob Baxter's side will be heading back to the Stade Marcel Michelin following today's draw held in Neuchatel, Switzerland.

Alongside ASM Clermont Auvergne, the Chiefs have been pitted with Ospreys, the top-ranked Welsh club, and Bordeaux-Begles, who booked their place in Europe's top club competition when they overcame Gloucester in last month's play-off.

It's a mouth-watering draw and one which has delighted Exeter Rugby Club chief exeuctive, Tony Rowe OBE, who said: "I think it's a terrific draw for everyone connected with the club. To be back amongst the elite teams in Europe is reward for what was a fantastic last season and I'm very much looking forward to all of the fixtures.

"Obviously it will be great to face Clermont again, they are one of the top club sides in Europe and having played them only a couple of years ago, home and away, we have great memories from both those games. At the same time, we've never travelled to either the Ospreys or Bordeaux before, so again it's new experiences for the club and all of our supporters."

Both pool draws were compered by Craig Doyle (BT Sport) and Raphael Ibanez (France Television) and were conducted by Ieuan Evans (Sky Sports) and Dimitri Yachvili (beIN Sports).

Elsewhere, the reigning Aviva Premiership champions, Saracens, have been drawn in Pool 1. The Londoners, who reached the Champions Cup semi-finals last season, will be up against Ulster Rugby, four-time winners Toulouse and newcomers, Oyonnax, when the 2015/16 season kicks off in November.

Bath Rugby, the number two-ranked club from the Aviva Premiership, will clash with reigning champions, RC Toulon, Leinster Rugby and Wasps in Pool 5 - a quintessential Pool of Death.

Glasgow Warriors, who become the first Scottish club to win a major title in the professional era when they were crowned Guinness PRO12 champions, were drawn in Pool 3 against Northampton Saints, Racing 92 and Scarlets; whilst Munster Rugby, the highest-ranked Irish club from the PRO12, will face recent Top 14 winners, Stade Francais Paris, Leicester Tigers and Benetton Treviso in Pool 4.
015/16 Champions Cup pools

Pool 1: Saracens, Ulster Rugby, Toulouse, Oyonnax
Pool 2: ASM Clermont Auvergne, Ospreys, Exeter Chiefs, Bordeaux-Begles
Pool 3: Glasgow Warriors, Northampton Saints, Racing 92, Scarlets
Pool 4: Stade Francais Paris, Munster Rugby, Leicester Tigers, Benetton Treviso
Pool 5: Bath Rugby, RC Toulon, Leinster Rugby, Wasps

2015/16 Tournament weekends

Round 1: 12/13/14/15 November
Round 2: 19/20/21/22 November
Round 3: 10/11/12/13 December
Round 4: 17/18/19/20 December
Round 5: 14/15/16/17 January 2016
Round 6: 21/22/23/24 January 2016
Quarter-finals: 7/8/9/10 April 2016
Semi-finals: 22/23/24 April 2016
Finals: 13/14 May 2016