"My initial reaction to the draw is that it is not only tremendously exciting but also a huge challenge," he told www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk
"We will be travelling to places and playing teams that are new to us in this competition which is what makes the Heineken Cup such a special tournament.
"Gloucester is still a young and developing side but it now has the chance to test itself against some of the finest talent in Europe. Personally, I think Leinster were the flair team in the tournament last season, particularly in the quarter-finals, and I know from experience that any trip to France can test the bounds of physical endurance to the limits and Edinburgh are also a very, very competitive side.
"I think every team has a good chance of progressing, which makes our group very interesting and extremely exciting - a club like Gloucester needs the exposure of the Heineken Cup and we are a in a fantastic pool."
Scrum-half Rory Lawson will make a return trip to his former club Edinburgh, while French prop Christian Califano, also a summer recruit to Kingsholm, will travel back to his former club Agen.
The draw will mean former Lions skipper Brian O'Driscoll will lead Leinster at Kingsholm and all three clubs will be new to Gloucester on their European adventures, and it will be the first time ever Gloucester have faced a Scottish club in European competitions.
Gloucester have been to the semi-finals of the European Cup once - in 2001 - when they lost to Leicester at Vicarage Road.
The order of the matches will be confirmed by ERC in the second week of July.
