The draw was conducted using the 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 2009/10 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, English clubs Sale Sharks and Harlequins drawn together in Pool 5 as England have seven teams in next season's competition.
HEINEKEN CUP 2009/10 POOLS
POOL 1: Munster, Perpignan, Northampton Saints, Benetton Treviso
POOL 2: Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque, Gloucester Rugby, Newport Gwent Dragons, Glasgow Warriors
POOL 3: Leicester Tigers, Ospreys, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Viadana
POOL 4: Bath Rugby, Stade Français Paris, Ulster Rugby, Edinburgh
POOL 5: Toulouse, Cardiff Blues, Sale Sharks, Harlequins
POOL 6: Leinster, London Irish, Scarlets, Brive
THE TIERS (with ranking points):
TIER 1
33 - Munster, 26 - Leicester Tigers, 24 - Leinster, 21 - Toulouse, 20 - Bath Rugby, 20 - Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque
TIER 2
16 - Cardiff Blues, 14 - Stade Français Paris, 14 - Gloucester Rugby, 14 - Perpignan, 13 - Ospreys, 12 - London Irish
TIER 3
12 - Northampton Saints, 11 - Sale Sharks, 11 - ASM Clermont Auvergne, 11 - Scarlets, 7 - Ulster Rugby, 7 - Newport Gwent Dragons
TIER 4
6 - Harlequins, 6 - Glasgow Warriors, 5 - Edinburgh, 4 - Benetton Treviso, 4 - Brive, 1 - Viadana
HEINEKEN CUP 2009/10 FIXTURES
ROUND 1 - 9/10/11 October, 2009
ROUND 2 - 16/17/18 October, 2009
ROUND 3 -11/12/13 December, 2009
ROUND 4 -18/19/20 December, 2009
ROUND 5 - 15/16/17 January, 2010
ROUND 6 - 22/23/24 January, 2010
QUARTER-FINALS - 9 / 10 / 11 April, 2010
SEMI-FINALS - 1 / 2 May, 2010
15th HEINEKEN CUP FINAL - Stade de France - Saturday, 22 May
Mike Burton Travel, the official travel partner for Gloucester Rugby, will be offering official supporter packages to all of the team's Heineken Cup weekends through England Rugby Travel which it operates from its Head Office in Gloucester.
Mike Burton operates England Rugby Travel, the official travel company for the England team which is operates official packages at British & Irish Lions tours, Rugby World Cups, the RBS 6 Nations and the Hong Kong Sevens.
Fixture dates are still to be confirmed, packages will be 'hotel and ticket' - fans will all be sat and staying together, a great way weekend away and fantastic support for the team.
Visit the "Contact Us" section of http://www.englandrugbytravel.com now to register your interest in this season's Heineken Cup.
