For the purposes of the draw, the 24 qualified clubs will be divided into four tiers of six clubs, based on their European performances over the past four seasons. The clubs from each tier will be kept apart in the draw for the pools.
Tier 1: Leinster, Toulouse, Biarritz Olympique, Munster, Cardiff Blues, Northampton Saints.
Tier 2: ASM Clermont Auvergne, Ulster, Leicester Tigers, Harlequins, RC Toulon, Edinburgh Rugby.
Tier 3: Ospreys, Scarlets, Glasgow Warriors, Saracens, Connacht, Sale Sharks.
Tier 4: Castres Olympique, Bennetton Treviso, Racing Metro 92, Montpelier, Exeter Chiefs, Italian team (to be nominated by FIR).
Except for the French clubs, no two clubs from the same country will be drawn in the same Pool. Montpelier, as the lowest ranked of the seven French clubs, will be drawn last into a Pool containing another French club.
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