Saints face Racing reunion in Champions Cup

Jim Mallinder’s men lost both meetings with Racing during the previous campaign, but still managed to progress to the quarter-finals, where they were eviscerated by Clermont Auvergne.

Saints will also face Gregor Townsend’s Glasgow Warriors, who won the Guinness PRO12 last season, and Scarlets in next season’s competition.

But it is the double-header with Racing that will draw the most attention, with the cash rich French club adding New Zealand star Dan Carter to their ranks this summer.

Racing, who also possess former Northampton prop Brian Mujati, edged out Saints 20-11 in Paris last October before running riot at Franklin’s Gardens in January to secure top spot in Pool 5.

Saints’ most recent meeting with Glasgow came back in January, 2013, when the Warriors won 27-20 at Scotstoun to eliminate Mallinder’s side from the Heineken Cup.

Scarlets, George North’s former club, are also familiar foes, with Northampton having won there in the LV= Cup pool stages last season.

Champions Cup draw

Pool 1: Saracens, Ulster, Toulouse, Oyonnax

Pool 2: Clermont Auvergne, Ospreys, Exeter Chiefs, Bordeaux Begles

Pool 3: Glasgow Warriors, SAINTS, Racing 92, Scarlets

Pool 4: Stade Francais, Munster, Leicester Tigers, Treviso

Pool 5: Bath, Toulon, Leinster, Wasps