Wasps buzzing after HC draw
Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:33
Guinness Premiership champions London Wasps have been drawn in Group Two of the Heineken Cup 2008/09, where they will play Leinster, Castres and Edinburgh.
The draw, which was completed on Tuesday, was seeded for the first time due to the new European Cup rankings system which split the clubs into four tiers based on performances in the competition over the last four seasons.
Reacting to the draw, Director of Rugby Ian McGeechan said that even though the club were drawn in a tough group of teams, they were up for the 2009 installment of the tournament.
"Ours is a challenging group, but that's what you'd expect from the Heineken Cup, as the top club competition in Europe.
"We are looking at playing the Magners League champions, a resurgent Edinburgh under Andy Robinson, and a Castres team who are coming good in the French championship.
"Looking at the groups across the draw, they are all very well spread and there's no bad team, therefore our performances are going to have to be top draw, but we'd expect that in such a premier competition.
"Qualifying for this competition is always a key aim for English clubs, and in the past the Heineken Cup has provided Wasps and our supporters with some great adventures, and the following we have had in Europe has been greatly appreciated by everyone at the club.
"We have played all three other group two teams before in the Heineken Cup, and they are teams that we know well and respect, so rugby supporters everywhere can expect to enjoy some outstanding rugby - and whoever wants to qualify from this group will have to be outstanding to win it!"
Head Coach Shaun Edwards commented on the seeding procedure, and said that it was a fair way of approaching the competition.
"I think the seeding system has delivered a much more even draw with exciting and challenging fixtures in every group, where often you can't predict the winner - our group being a great example of that.
"There will be no easy games for us, remembering our defeat at Edinburgh in 2005, and Leinster are one of the most talented teams in Europe and always a danger.
"Castres are a team on the up in France and have in the past proved one of the most difficult teams to beat on the big occasion, as we experienced in our winning year of 2006/07, when both our games against them went down to the wire.
"I'm sure that London Wasps fans will pack out Adams Park to support us in our quest to regain the trophy we won in 2007, and I hope the large majority of supporters who out numbered the best supported team in England at the Guinness Premiership Final last month will be there to get behind the team in all our fixtures next season," said Edwards.
Current Heineken Cup champions Munster have been drawn in Group One of the competition, and will face Premiership side Sale Sharks, and French clubs Clermont Auvergne and Montauban in the group stage of next season's competition.
