Bulls, Stormers seeded in Tier 1 for Champions Cup draw

 The Stormers and the Bulls are both seeded in the top tier for the Champions Cup draw taking place in Dublin on Tuesday, 28 June.

Joining them in Tier 1 are European rugby heavy-hitters Castres Olympique, Montpellier Hérault Rugby, Leicester Tigers and Saracens.

The Sharks form part of Tier 3 alongside Stade Rochelais, Racing 92, Gloucester Rugby, Sale Sharks, and Munster.

The South African franchises will feature in the Champions Cup draw for the first time, with 24 qualified clubs in four tiers based on their rankings from the TOP 14, Gallagher Premiership and the URC.

They will be drawn into two pools of 12 teams – Pool A and Pool B. 

Clubs from the same league in the same tier will not be drawn into the same pool, and clubs from the same league will not play against one another during the pool stage.  

A second draw for the European Rugby Champions Cup will also occur on the day and feature two other South African franchises, the Lions and the Cheetahs.

The Lions are in Tier 2 along with Connacht, Benneton, Cardiff, Stade Francais, Brive, Worcester Warriors and Newcastle Falcons. 

The Cheetahs are in Tier 3 with the Dragons, Zebre Parma, USAP, Aviron Bayonnais and Bath.

The EPRC Cup will have 20 clubs in three tiers to create two pools of 10 – Pool A and Pool B. 

Clubs from the same league will not play against one another during the pool stage. 

The draws start at 13:00 (SA time).

Champions Cup pool draw tiers

Tier 1: Castres Olympique, Montpellier Hérault Rugby, Leicester Tigers, Saracens, Stormers, Bulls

Tier 2: Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Stade Toulousain, Harlequins, Northampton Saints, Leinster Rugby, Ulster Rugby

Tier 3: Stade Rochelais, Racing 92, Gloucester Rugby, Sale Sharks, Sharks, Munster Rugby

Tier 4: ASM Clermont