Champions Cup draw: Northampton and Bath face tough task

Northampton and Bath will compete for points in the same tough Champions Cup pool next season, having been drawn with Pretoria-based Bulls and Top 14 runners-up Montpellier.

The Bulls lost the United Rugby Championship (URC) final against Leinster in June, while Montpellier were also one game away from glory when beaten by Toulouse in France’s showpiece league competition.

Stade Francaise, who reached the Top 14 semi-finals, and Cardiff – the top Welsh side in the URC – completed a competitive Pool Four.

Elsewhere, Bristol face Gloucester and Munster in Pool Three, as well as a reunion with defending champions Bordeaux-Bagles.

The French superpower took a narrow victory When the teams met at the same stage in January at Ashton Gate.

Leinster take on Leicester, Sale and Glasgow in Pool One, while Toulouse – who won their fourth consecutive French title last weekend – are up against Saracens, Exeter and Connacht in Pool Two.

In the second tier Challenge Cup, Harlequins drew with Edinburgh and Ospreys along with three-time Champions Cup winners Toulon.

Newcastle are in Pool Two with Scarlets, Benetton and Sharks.

Ulster have Bayonne and Perpignan, as well as Dragons, as their French opponents in Pool Three.

The fixture list will be announced later this month, along with potential key home advantages.