Sharks draw Heineken Cup champions Munster in next season's group stage

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Sale Sharks face the daunting prospect of facing European champions Munster and
two French teams in the group stages of next season's Heineken Cup.

The Guinness Premiership side were handed arguably the toughest task of all the
English clubs in this morning's draw, with the talented Clermont Auvergne and
Montauban awaiting them in Pool One.

Premiership champions Wasps must also overcome a strong trio if they are to
reach the knockout stages, with Leinster, Castres and Edinburgh making up Pool
Two.

Key score: Munster's Denis Leamy (8) crosses for a try against Toulouse in last season's final

Runners-up Leicester were drawn against Perpignan, Welsh entertainers Ospreys
and Italian minnows Treviso in Pool Three.

This season's defeated Heineken Cup finalists Toulouse are in Pool Five
alongside Challenge Cup winners Bath, Newport Gwent Dragons and Glasgow.

In Pool Six, Gloucester appear to have a strong chance of qualifying from a
group which also includes French side Biarritz, cup quarter-finalists Cardiff
and Italy's Calvisano.

Harlequins' prospects look slightly less rosy in Pool Four, however, with Stade
Francais, Llanelli Scarlets and Ulster awaiting them when the matches get under
way in October.

Today's draw was the first to use the new European Cup Rugby rankings system
which split the clubs into four tiers based on performances in the competition
over the last four seasons.