Exeter Chiefs will play star-studded Heineken Cup holders Leinster in next season's competition following today's 2012-2013 pool draw in Dublin.
Rob Baxter's Chiefs will also face top French 14 side ASM Clermont Auvergne as well as Welsh wizards Scarlets, from Llanelli, in next season's European Club Rugby cup competition.
Leo Cullen's Leinster beat Ulster 42-14 in front of record breaking 81,744 rugby supporters at Twickenham in last month's end of season 2011-2012 Heineken Cup final to win the competition for a third time in four years while becoming only the second side to retain the cup.
The first team to achieve the feat were Leicester in 2002.
2012/13 Heineken Cup Pool Draw
Pool 1 Munster Rugby, Edinburgh Rugby, Saracens, Racing Metro 92
Pool 2 Toulouse, Leicester Tigers, Ospreys, Benetton Treviso
Pool 3 Biarritz Olympique, Harlequins, Connacht Rugby, Zebre
Pool 4 Northampton Saints, Ulster Rugby, Glasgow Warriors, Castres Olympique
Pool 5 Leinster Rugby, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Scarlets, Exeter Chiefs
Pool 6 Cardiff Blues, RC Toulon, Sale Sharks, Montpellier
2012/13 Heineken Cup Dates
Round 1 12/13/14 October 2012
Round 2 19/20/21 October 2012
Round 3 7/8/9 December 2012
Round 4 14/15/16 December 2012
Round 5 11/12/13 January 2013
Round 6 18/19/20 January 2013
• read Rob Baxter's reaction at the official Exeter Chiefs website
