The Blues have been drawn in the same group as Biarritz Olympique, Gloucester Rugby and Rugby Calvisano in Pool 6 of the 2008 Heineken Cup.
All three teams will be familiar to Blues supporters with the Cardiff Blues doing the double over Calvisano in the Heineken Cup during the 2005-2006 season. The Cardiff Blues narrowly lost to Gloucester on both occasions in the 2004-05 season, going down 23-19 at Kingsholm and 16-23 at the Arms Park.
Honours were shared against the top seeded team, Biarritz Olympique, when the two teams last met in the Heineken Cup, the Blues going down 35-20 in Biarritz and winning by 21-20 at the Arms Park.
Young said, “I think every coach, manager and chief executive would say that there are no easy groups in the Heineken Cup, but in saying that I think most groups have come out far more open than in recent years.”
“There is no pool of death but the competition in each group is strong, with most teams thinking they have got a chance, whereas in recent years, the tougher groups have knocked some of the bigger names out. The openness of the groups seems to be down to the new seeding system, and we’ve got to make sure we do well this season to move up the rankings. We did fear the worst being seeded third but I think this season’s draw has given us a chance.”
“From a personal point of view, it is not the hardest group that we have had, but Biarritz is never an easy place to go and get a result, which we know from past experience. Gloucester is one of the biggest fortresses in English rugby and Calvisano is also a difficult place to go to. We have really tough away games but the Heineken Cup is no different this year than previous years. You have got to win your home game and try to get something on the road.”
“Overall I’m pleased with the draw, it’s not a difficult as it could be and perhaps not as difficult as years gone by when we’ve had Munster and Leicester in our group. But we know we still have a big task ahead of us, and the other three teams will be feeling they can win it also.”
“We played Gloucester in the Heineken Cup before and narrowly lost. They have finished top of their league twice and we know they are one of the best teams in England. Indeed Biarritz are also always at the top of the French Championship and Calvisano have just been crowned Italian champions.”
“We took a big step last season to reach the quarter-finals and with all due respect to the teams we played last year I think the teams we have this season are more difficult to beat so we will have to be at our best.”
