Tough Challenge Cup Draw For Connacht

…Michael Bradley…

Connacht have been grouped with French side Montpellier and English clubs Bath and NEC Harlequins in their pool for the 2006/07 European Challenge Cup.

Montpellier are familiar foes to the westerners – Connacht have played them four times in the last two seasons in Europe, winning three times. Michael Bradley’s side garnered two very impressive wins over Montpellier at the Sportsground – 56-3 and 43-10 – and will be hoping to do the same next season.

Connacht met Harlequins, who won the English Division 1 championship recently, in the 2003/04 Challenge Cup semi-final – the province went down over the two-legged encounter by an aggregate of just four points. Bath, Heineken Cup finalists last season, are new opponents for Connacht, who will be paying their first ever visit to the famous Rec ground.

Looking ahead to the Pool 4 fare, Connacht boss Bradley said: “It is good to know at the outset of the season who we will be facing. They should be cracking matches. It will be tough but that is what you expect at this level.

“We are more familiar with Montpellier, having played them in each of the last two seasons. We played Harlequins three seasons ago in the semi-final when there was a huge crowd at the Sportsground and we now have the opportunity to do that twice when we host two very strong English Premiership sides next season.”

Dates, kick-off times and venues for the pool matches are to be confirmed in two weeks’ time, with the first round set for the weekend of October 20-22. The five pool winners and the three best runners-up will advance to the quarter-finals.

POOLS FOR 2006/07 EUROPEAN CHALLENGE CUP:

POOL 1: Newport Gwent Dragons, Bayonne, Bristol, Bucuresti

POOL 2: Glasgow Warriors, Narbonne, Saracens, GRAN Parma

POOL 3: Newcastle Falcons, Brive, Petrarca Padova, Montauban

POOL 4: CONNACHT, Montpellier, Bath, NEC Harlequins

POOL 5: ASM Clermont Auvergne, Worcester Warriors, Viadana, Albi