The Ospreys will be the sole Welsh representative in the premier Champions Cup competition with Allen Clarke’s side drawn in a group of death in Pool 4.
Defending European and Gallagher Premiership champions Saracens, Irish giants Munster =, and French powerhouses Racing 92 will be the opponents for the Liberty Stadium-based region.
It is a daunting yet exciting draw for the Ospreys and means there should be packed houses in Swansea for the region’s home games against opposition of the highest quality.
Ospreys head coach Clarke said: “I think everyone knows we are up against some serious contenders for the title next year. Saracens have shown their pedigree over the last number of years and with Munster and Racing as well it’s going to be a real challenge.
“They’ve got tremendous strength in depth and tremendous quality and the pedigree of having performed at the top of their leagues and in Europe. Having said that we’ve shown what we can do, particularly at home, when we get our best combinations on the field.
“I’m sure nobody was after us as a fourth opposition in a pool. We wanted into this competition and to be in Europe and we want to challenge with the best. We’ve got a group of players who thrive on that. Now it’s time to draw breath and when the tournament comes round we’ll be determined to put in 80-minute performances to try and get wins.”
Wales’ other three sides – Dragons, Scarlets and Cardiff Blues – will all play in the Challenge Cup.
The Dragons have been drawn in Pool 1 alongside Castres Olympique, Worcester Warriors, and Russian side Enisei-STM.
It means new Dragons director of rugby Dean Ryan will make a return to the Warriors where he previously held a senior coaching position.
The Scarlets have never played in the second tier Challenge Cup, but will do so in 2019-20 in Pool 2 with French giants Toulon, London Irish, and Bayonne.
New Scarlets assistant coaches Glenn Delaney and Richard Whiffin have worked at Irish in the past so the two fixtures with the English side will hold special appeal for them.
In Pool 5 Cardiff Blues will face Leicester Tigers, Pau, and Calvisano.
The meetings with Leicester and Pau will appeal in particular to Blues supporters.
French side Pau employ former Blues legend Paul Tito as their forwards coach while the capital region have a famous European history with Leicester.
In May 2009 the two sides met in a Heineken Cup semi-final at what was then the Millennium Stadium with Leicester winning 7-6 in the first ever penalty shootout in professional rugby.
It followed the two sides ending level at 26-26 after 80 minutes and a scoreless extra time period.
“It’s an exciting pool for us. We’ve got some history with a few of the clubs in our pool including a longstanding history with Leicester Tigers,” said Cardiff Blues head coach John Mulvihill.
“I remember the penalty shootout game and we’ve got history with Pau too as Paul won the Challenge Cup with us in 2010. We’re looking forward to locking horns with him again.”
2019/20 Heineken Champions Cup and European Rugby Challenge Cup Pool Draws:
Heineken Champions Cup:
Pool 1: Leinster Rugby, Lyon, Northampton Saints, Benetton Rugby
Pool 2: Exeter Chiefs, Glasgow Warriors, La Rochelle, Sale Sharks
Pool 3: ASM Clermont Auvergne, Ulster Rugby, Harlequins, Bath Rugby
Pool 4: Saracens, Munster Rugby, Racing 92, Ospreys
Pool 5: Toulouse, Gloucester Rugby, Connacht Rugby, Montpellier
European Rugby Challenge Cup:
Pool 1: Castres Olympique, Worcester Warriors, Dragons, Enisei-STM
Pool 2: Scarlets, RC Toulon, London Irish, Bayonne
Pool 3: Wasps, Edinburgh Rugby, Bordeaux-Begles, Agen
Pool 4: Stade Francais Paris, Bristol Bears, Zebre Rugby Club, Brive
Pool 5: Cardiff Blues, Leicester Tigers, Pau, Rugby Calvisano
EPCR weekends – 2019/20 season:
Round 1: 15/16/17 November 2019
Round 2: 22/23/24 November 2019
Round 3: 6/7/8 December 2019
Round 4: 13/14/15 December 2019
Round 5: 10/11/12 January 2020
Round 6: 17/18/19 January 2020
Quarter-finals: 3/4/5 April 2020
Semi-finals: 1/2/3 May 2020
2020 finals – Stade de Marseille
Challenge Cup final – Friday 22 May
Heineken Champions Cup final – Saturday 23 May
