Leinster set to face old foe as Munster come up against former head coach in Champions Cup pools
Leinster will face La Rochelle for the sixth time in five-and-a-half years.
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Leinster have won all three of their last meetings with La Rochelle
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Munster lost to both Bath and Gloucester in last summer's pre-season
Leo Cullen's men lost the 2021 semi-final and finals in the two following seasons but have since beaten Ronan O'Gara's men three times, but only
They will also face Leicester for the fifth season in a row as well as playing Harlequins, who avenged their 2024 semi-final defeat by turning the tables at the same stage of the competition this season.
Bayonne and Stormer complete Pool Three.
In Pool Two, Munster will come up against their
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They will also face Toulon, Castres, Gloucester and Edinburgh.
On paper, Connacht look to have fared slightly better than Ulster in the draw for the Challenge Cup.
Champions Cup:
Pool 1: Toulouse, Clermont Auvergne, Sharks, Saracens, Glasgow Warriors, Sale
Pool 2: Bath Rugby, RC Toulon,
Munster Rugby
, Castres Olympique, Edinburgh Rugby, Gloucester Rugby
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Pool 3:
Leinster Rugby
, Leicester Tigers, Harlequins, La Rochelle, Aviron Bayonnais, DHL Stormers
Pool 4: Bordeaux Bègles, Scarlets, Bristol Bears, Section Paloise, Northampton Saints, Bulls
'Big weekend' - Peter O'Mahony embarking on hectic gardening project as he aims to add '300 plants'
Challenge Cup:
Pool 1: Ospreys, Zebre Parma, Montpellier, Benetton Rugby, Racing 92,
Connacht Rugby
Pool 2: Lyon, Newcastle Falcons, Dragons RFC, US Montauban, Lions, USAP
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Pool 3: Toyota Cheetahs, Cardiff Rugby, Exeter Chiefs, Black Lion, Stade Francais,
Ulster Rugby
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