Ulster Rugby will play Exeter Chiefs, ASM Clermont Auvergne and Bordeaux-Bègles in next season's European Rugby Champions Cup after the draw was made today in Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
Les Kiss’ side will face a tough challenge in Pool 5 against the Aviva Premiership finalists and two powerhouses of French rugby.
The draw will mean a return to Ulster for Exeter Chiefs captain Gareth Steenson, who played All-Ireland League rugby for Dungannon RFC, and Ian Whitten, who earned 63 caps for the Province between 2008 and 2012.
Exeter, coached by Rob Baxter, has been one of the success stories of European rugby in recent years and enjoyed a remarkable season in 2015/16, reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup and the final of the English Premiership.
It will be the first meeting between the two sides in Europe, but they will have a chance to size each other up when they come face-to-face in a pre-season friendly at Sandy Park on Saturday 20th August.
Clermont has been one of the giants of the European game but is still without a triumph in Europe’s elite competition. Indeed, they suffered recent heartbreak when they lost the finals in 2012/13 and 2014/15, both at the hands of RC Toulon. Their playing roster is jam-packed with French internationals such Morgan Parra, Wesley Fofana and Aurélien Rougerie.
The teams last met during the 2011/12 Heineken Cup campaign; Ulster won 16-11 at home before narrowly losing 15-19 at the fortress Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin.
Bordeaux will also be strong, having recruited Ireland fylhalf Ian Madigan to join a squad that already included the likes of Adam Ashley-Cooper and Jean-Baptiste Poux. The last meeting between Ulster and Bordeaux was way back in the 1995/96 campaign.
Commenting on the draw, Kiss said:
"It is a difficult pool, for sure. But we were expecting that because it’s a really tough competition. The three teams will pose great challenges but it’s something we’re excited about. All teams in the pool like to play an attractive brand of rugby, so it should be good to watch from a supporter’s perspective as well."
Ieuan Evans, who conducted the draw with Dmitri Yachvili, said: "I am really looking forward to (Champions Cup) pool five, there's sides there that like to play expansive attractive rugby so that's one to watch."
You can guarantee entry into all of Ulster’s home Champions Cup games with a 2016/17 Season Ticket. To purchase a Season Ticket visit www.ulsterrugby.com/buytickets or visit www.ulsterrugby.com/seasontickets for more info.
EPCR WEEKENDS - 2016/17 SEASON
Round 1: 13-16 October 2016
Round 2: 19-22 October 2016
Round 3: 8-11 December 2016
Round 4: 15-18 December 2016
Round 5: 12-15 January 2017
Round 6: 19-22 January 2017
Quarter-finals: 30 March-2 April 2017
Semi-finals: 21-23 April 2017
Final: Saturday 13 May 2017, BT Murrayfield Stadium
Les Kiss’ side will face a tough challenge in Pool 5 against the Aviva Premiership finalists and two powerhouses of French rugby.
The draw will mean a return to Ulster for Exeter Chiefs captain Gareth Steenson, who played All-Ireland League rugby for Dungannon RFC, and Ian Whitten, who earned 63 caps for the Province between 2008 and 2012.
Exeter, coached by Rob Baxter, has been one of the success stories of European rugby in recent years and enjoyed a remarkable season in 2015/16, reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup and the final of the English Premiership.
It will be the first meeting between the two sides in Europe, but they will have a chance to size each other up when they come face-to-face in a pre-season friendly at Sandy Park on Saturday 20th August.
Clermont has been one of the giants of the European game but is still without a triumph in Europe’s elite competition. Indeed, they suffered recent heartbreak when they lost the finals in 2012/13 and 2014/15, both at the hands of RC Toulon. Their playing roster is jam-packed with French internationals such Morgan Parra, Wesley Fofana and Aurélien Rougerie.
The teams last met during the 2011/12 Heineken Cup campaign; Ulster won 16-11 at home before narrowly losing 15-19 at the fortress Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin.
Bordeaux will also be strong, having recruited Ireland fylhalf Ian Madigan to join a squad that already included the likes of Adam Ashley-Cooper and Jean-Baptiste Poux. The last meeting between Ulster and Bordeaux was way back in the 1995/96 campaign.
Commenting on the draw, Kiss said:
"It is a difficult pool, for sure. But we were expecting that because it’s a really tough competition. The three teams will pose great challenges but it’s something we’re excited about. All teams in the pool like to play an attractive brand of rugby, so it should be good to watch from a supporter’s perspective as well."
Ieuan Evans, who conducted the draw with Dmitri Yachvili, said: "I am really looking forward to (Champions Cup) pool five, there's sides there that like to play expansive attractive rugby so that's one to watch."
You can guarantee entry into all of Ulster’s home Champions Cup games with a 2016/17 Season Ticket. To purchase a Season Ticket visit www.ulsterrugby.com/buytickets or visit www.ulsterrugby.com/seasontickets for more info.
EPCR WEEKENDS - 2016/17 SEASON
Round 1: 13-16 October 2016
Round 2: 19-22 October 2016
Round 3: 8-11 December 2016
Round 4: 15-18 December 2016
Round 5: 12-15 January 2017
Round 6: 19-22 January 2017
Quarter-finals: 30 March-2 April 2017
Semi-finals: 21-23 April 2017
Final: Saturday 13 May 2017, BT Murrayfield Stadium