Heineken Cup welcomes Montauban
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:07
US Montauban will become the 55th team to play Heineken Cup rugby having qualified for the 14th Heineken Cup as the seventh team from France.
The debutants will get a quick taste of the intensity of Europe's premier club tournament when they travel to the Thomond Park home of the 2008 champions Munster's on the Friday evening of Round One.
US Montauban was founded in 1905 and is located in the rugby heartland of the south of France 50km north of Toulouse and the Green and Black club is based at Stade de Sapiac.
The intimate 9,200 capacity ground will become the 83rd venue to stage tournament action when they welcome their countrymen ASM Clermont Auvergne in Round Two.
Montauban won the French championship in 1967 and later won the Pro D2 (second division) in 2001 and 2006.
Although the players may never have sampled Heineken Cup rugby, they will be able call on the experience of their Head Coach
Laurent Travers who won a Heineken Cup medal with Brive in 1997.
Speaking after the Pool draw Travers was excited about their European campaign.
"This is it for us - we have dreamed of the Heineken Cup for so long and now we have it. And what a Pool! We will have the chance of measuring ourselves against the current European champions and the former English champions
"It is going to be enormously difficult for us but what an amazing opportunity for our players to experience the highest level of club rugby and to line up against teams who are almost totally made up of international players. This can only continue the evolution of our club. Fabulous!"
Montauban players to watch include France international flanks Ibrahim Diarra and Yannick Caballero and Scotland international Scott Murray.
With thanks to ercrugby.com
