Ulster handed tough Challenge Cup draw as Paris pair await Richie Murphy's young side
Along with the French duo and the South African tourists, Ulster have also been paired with former European champions the Exeter Chiefs and fellow URC side Cardiff in Pool Three.
However, the province will have to wait to find out who they will face at home and away, with the schedule dictating that they face only four of their fellow five pool members in order to determine who progresses to the knockout stages.
Fixtures will be determined using an algorithm which will take into consideration league calendar restrictions, individual club calendar restrictions, broadcast requirements and the pool draws.
It is believed that Ulster are most likely not to face Cardiff as EPCR try to avoid inter-League matches where possible, however other factors may mean they will have to face the Welsh side.
On the face of it, it is a tough draw for Murphy's men, who have been handed a former European champion, a three-time Champions Cup finalist and two former Challenge Cup champions in their pool.
Racing 92 are the premier club with their galactico squad at their disposal that contains the likes of France captain Gaël Fickou and fellow internationals Demba Bamba, Nolann le Garrec and Cameron Woki, as well as Australian prop Taniela Tupou.
The two sides have met as recently as December 2023 when Ulster triumphed 31-15 at Ravenhill in a Champions Cup clash, with this meeting the fourth in the pair's history.
There will be plenty of Ulster fans who will be eagerly anticipating the rematch with Stade Francais after the pair's infamous last meeting in 2009 when Stephen Ferris was eye-gouged by David Attoub, who received a 70-week ban for his actions.
No longer a European powerhouse, the Parisians still boast a strong squad led by mercurial French full-back Léo Barré and will be a stern test for this young Ulster squad.
The Cheetahs will be an intriguing prospect, too, the South Africans playing their home matches in Amsterdam as opposed to Bloemfontein, with Ulster set for their first meeting with the former Pro14 side since they left the League in 2020.
And there will be a quick rematch with Exeter, whom Ulster defeated at Ravenhill back in January to book their place in the last-16 of the Champions Cup, in the pool stages as well, Rob Baxter's former European champions having fallen away in recent years but still a threat thanks to the likes of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Henry Slade and Ross Vintcent.
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