PRO12 Champions Connacht Rugby were drawn with Wasps, Toulouse and Zebre Rugby in Pool 2 of the European Champions Cup earlier today.
Giving his reaction to the draw, head coach Pat Lam said:
“Firstly, it was just fantastic to have been part of the draw and to have earned the right to be there. We’re excited by who was drawn in our pool. Zebre who we play year on year in the PRO12 and who we have met in Europe before are always a tough challenge for us and we want to maintain our record against them. With Wasps and Toulouse we have two previous winners in Europe so that sets up a great challenge for us.
“Champions Cup is the ultimate in Northern hemisphere rugby. It’s great to be a part of it and, like I said, to have earned the right to be there. We certainly will back ourselves to prepare well and the aim for us is to reach the knock out stages of the competition.”
2016/17 Champions Cup pools
Pool 1: Racing 92, Glasgow Warriors, Leicester Tigers, Munster Rugby
Pool 2: Connacht Rugby, Wasps, Toulouse, Zebre Rugby
Pool 3: Saracens, RC Toulon, Scarlets, Sale Sharks
Pool 4: Leinster Rugby, Montpellier, Northampton Saints, Castres Olympique
Pool 5: Exeter Chiefs, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Ulster Rugby, Bordeaux-Bègles
EPCR weekends – 2016/17
Round 1: 13/14/15/16 October
Round 2: 20/21/22/23 October
Round 3: 8/9/10/11 December
Round 4: 15/16/17/18 December
Round 5: 12/13/14/15 January 2017
Round 6: 19/20/21/22 January 2017
Quarter-finals: 30/31 March – 1/2 April 2017
Semi-finals: 21/22/23 April 2017
Pool 2: Connacht Rugby, Wasps, Toulouse, Zebre Rugby
Pool 3: Saracens, RC Toulon, Scarlets, Sale Sharks
Pool 4: Leinster Rugby, Montpellier, Northampton Saints, Castres Olympique
Pool 5: Exeter Chiefs, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Ulster Rugby, Bordeaux-Bègles
EPCR weekends – 2016/17
Round 1: 13/14/15/16 October
Round 2: 20/21/22/23 October
Round 3: 8/9/10/11 December
Round 4: 15/16/17/18 December
Round 5: 12/13/14/15 January 2017
Round 6: 19/20/21/22 January 2017
Quarter-finals: 30/31 March – 1/2 April 2017
Semi-finals: 21/22/23 April 2017
Round 2: 20/21/22/23 October
Round 3: 8/9/10/11 December
Round 4: 15/16/17/18 December
Round 5: 12/13/14/15 January 2017
Round 6: 19/20/21/22 January 2017
Quarter-finals: 30/31 March – 1/2 April 2017
Semi-finals: 21/22/23 April 2017
European Rugby Champions Cup Final: Saturday 13 May, BT Murrayfield Stadium