Saracens will have to go past Toulon early on if they are to defend their Champions Cup crown after being drawn in the same pool today.
The Premiership champions and the three-time European champions are in Pool 3 alongside Scarlets, the only Welsh side in the competition, and Sale.
Last year’s beaten finalists Racing 92, who put their European sorrows behind them last Friday by winning the Top14, are in Pool 1 with Glasgow Warriors, Leicester and Munster.
For the second year running, Exeter will take on Clermont and Bordeaux-Begles but the Ospreys have been replaces by Ulster in Pool 5.
Connacht Rugby, who were crowned PRO12 champions for the first time last season, were drawn in Pool 2 with Wasps, Toulouse and Zebre.
Leinster, the second-ranked Irish province from the PRO12, will face Montpellier, Northampton Saints and Castres in Pool 4.
Harlequins, the number-one ranked Premiership club in the Challenge Cup draw, will play Edinburgh, Stade Français and Timisoara Saracens from Romania in Pool 5.
There will be a West-Country derby in Pool 4 as Championship winners Bristol and Bath have been paired together and they will also have to take on Cardiff Blues and Pau.
2016/17 Champions Cup pools
Pool 1: Racing 92, Glasgow, Leicester, Munster
Pool 2: Connacht, Wasps, Toulouse, Zebre
Pool 3: Saracens, Toulon, Scarlets, Sale
Pool 4: Leinster, Montpellier, Northampton Sints, Castres
Pool 5: Exeter, Clermont, Ulster, Bordeaux-Bègles
2016/17 Challenge Cup pools
Pool 1: La Rochelle, Gloucester, Treviso, Bayonne
Pool 2: Ospreys, Grenoble, Newcastle, Lyon
Pool 3: Brive, Worcester, NG Dragons, Enisei
Pool 4: Cardiff Blues, Bath, Pau, Bristol
Pool 5: Harlequins, Edinburgh, Stade Français, Timisoara Saracens
EPCR weekends – 2016/17
Round 1: 13/14/15/16 October
Round 2: 20/21/22/23 October
Round 3: 8/9/10/11 December
Round 4: 15/16/17/18 December
Round 5: 12/13/14/15 January 2017
Round 6: 19/20/21/22 January 2017
Quarter-finals: 30/31 March – 1/2 April 2017
Semi-finals: 21/22/23 April 2017
Finals Edinburgh 2017
European Rugby Challenge Cup: Friday 12 May, BT Murrayfield Stadium
European Rugby Champions Cup: Saturday 13 May, BT Murrayfield Stadium
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