Saints in Tier 2 for Heineken Cup draw
Jim Mallinder’s men have been placed in Tier 2 alongside Harlequins, Cardiff Blues, Saracens, Leicester Tigers and Perpignan.
It means they will meet one of Leinster, Toulouse, Clermont Auvergne, Ulster, Munster or reigning champions Toulon, who are all in Tier 1, in the pool stages,
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAnd there could be a rapid reunion with former prop idols Soane Tonga’uiha and Brian Mujati, whose cash-rish Racing Metro outfit lurk ominously in Tier 4.
Saints were eliminated at the pool stages of last season’s competition, losing to Castres, Ulster and Glasgow along the way.
But they did manage to beat the Irish side on their own turf, claiming a memorable 10-9 win at Ravenhill in December.
2013/14 Heineken Cup clubs and tiers
Tier 1: Leinster Rugby, Toulon, Toulouse, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Ulster Rugby, Munster Rugby
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdTier 2: Saints, Harlequins, Cardiff Blues, Saracens, Leicester Tigers, Perpignan
Tier 3: Edinburgh Rugby, Ospreys, Scarlets, Glasgow Warriors, Montpellier, Connacht Rugby
Tier 4: Gloucester Rugby, Castres Olympique, Racing Metro 92, Exeter Chiefs, Benetton Treviso, Zebre