Dragons Downed By Parma

…Parma’s Paul Emerick tackles Tommy Bowe during the US Eagles’ clash with Ireland in November 2004…

The participants for the 2006/07 Heineken Cup have been confirmed following Overmach Parma’s surprise play-off win over Newport Gwent Dragons on Friday night.

Parma’s 24-15 victory at Rodney Parade means there will be three Italian teams in next season’s tournament – Benetton Treviso and Calvisano being the others.

Tries from flanker Liviu Pascu and full-back Paul Emerick, allied to 14 points from the boot of out-half Francesco Mazzariol, saw Parma, who lost to Connacht and Leinster in pre-season friendlies last August, win through.

USA international Emerick scored the clincher in the eighth-minute of injury time. He, along with Albert Tuipulotu, are due to fly back to the States on Sunday to link up with Peter Thoburn’s American Churchill Cup squad.

Emerick, who played against Ireland in 2004, said: “Parma has a long history, but it’s many years since we won the Italian championship and this will be our first time in the Heineken Cup – it’s very sweet.

“We’ve got better as the season has gone on and improved as a team, this is a great way to cap it off. Rugby’s growing in Italy and this will get a big reception in Parma, there’ll be a lot of very happy people.”

After a disappointing season which saw the Dragons finish fourth from bottom in the Celtic League, coach Paul Turner admitted: “The supporters are disappointed but it’s no big deal to me.

“We’re in the European Challenge Cup and I’ve never been scared of that. I’ve been in it before and won it with Harlequins.

“Facing Castres, Munster and Sale this year took its toll on our squad. We can concentrate better on domestic rugby.”

Turner’s charges lost twice to Munster in Pool One of this season’s Heineken Cup.

The draw for the Pool stages of next season’s Heineken Cup will be made in the coming weeks. The top-seeded teams from each of the six nations will be drawn in separate Pools.

Five of the Pools will have no more than one team from the same country. One of the Pools will have two French teams as France have earned an additional seventh place by virtue of being the most successful nationa out of England, France and Italy in this year’s tournament.

2006/07 HEINEKEN CUP QUALIFIERS:

England (6) – Sale Sharks (seeded), Leicester Tigers, London Irish, London Wasps, Gloucester, Northampton Saints

France (7) – (seeded team to be decided by winner of next weekend’s Top 14 final) Agen, Biarritz Olympique, Bourgoin, Castres Olympique, Perpignan, Stade Francais, Toulouse

Ireland (3) – Ulster (seeded), Munster, Leinster

Italy (3) – Benetton Treviso (seeded), Calvisano; Play-Off winners – Overmach Parma

Scotland (2) – Edinburgh Gunners (seeded), Border Reivers

Wales (3) – Cardiff Blues (seeded), Llanelli Scarlets, Ospreys