Leinster have been drawn in an intimidating group containing four-times winners Toulouse as well as English sides Wasps and Bath ahead of their Champions Cup title defence next season.

The province secured their fourth European Cup with victory over Racing 92 in Bilbao last month, and despite being top seeds they will face another difficult group stage campaign next year following this afternoon's draw in Switzerland.

Every member of the group has tasted European success at least once, with a total of eleven European Cup wins between the four teams.

Munster will face Castres, Exeter and Gloucester in Pool 2 of the 2018/19 tournament, as last year's beaten semi-finalists go in search of their first European title since 2008.

Ulster qualified for the competition with a play-off victory over the Ospreys at the end of the season, and they will face a group including last year's finalists Racing 92, along with Welsh club the Scarlets and English Premiership side Leicester Tigers.

2018/19 Heineken Champions Cup pools

Pool 1: Leinster Rugby, Wasps, Toulouse, Bath Rugby

Pool 2: Castres Olympique, Exeter Chiefs, Munster Rugby, Gloucester Rugby

Pool 3: Saracens, Glasgow Warriors, Lyon, Cardiff Blues

Pool 4: Scarlets, Racing 92, Leicester Tigers, Ulster Rugby

Pool 5: Montpellier, Newcastle Falcons, Edinburgh Rugby, RC Toulon

Online Editors