French aristocrats Toulouse bound for the Sportsground

FOUR times Heineken Cup champions Toulouse will return to the Sportsground next season as Connacht were once again drawn against the aristocrats of European rugby for next season’s elite club competition.

Connacht will also play against English giants Saracens, who reached the semi-final of the competition in 2013 before losing to eventual champions Toulon, and Italian minnows Zebre, having been drawn together in pool three of the 2013/2014 Heineken Cup.

Toulouse may not have been as strong a force in the competition since winning it outright in 2010, but they are still considered the ‘Manchester United’ of European club rugby and they will be a major crowd puller at the Sportsground even if Clermont would have been a more prestigious opponent.

Toulouse was the first team to play Heineken Cup rugby against Connacht when, in 2011, a capacity crowd of 9,200 – a record – wedged into the College Road venue.

It’s fair to say Connacht were overawed by the occasion and although they were competitive, the visitors won handy enough running out 36-10 victors on what was a special, atmospheric occassion.

Connacht lost the return leg in their inaugural season in the top tier of club rugby but so impressive were they in defeat, the home crowd applauded Connacht off the field at the Stade Ernest Wallon in France.

 Being drawn against Italian outfit, Zebre, will hardly generate much excitement although at least the Western province can rely on at least one win: Connacht defeated Zebre twice in the pool stages of Heineken Cup last year, including a 10-19 win away and 20-25 home victory.

The Connacht Branch will be pleased with being paired with Saracens – at least it’s not Harlequins again – who will be another major crowd blockbuster.

Saracens, who have England international stars such as Chris Ashton, British and Irish Lion, Owen Farrell, and Alex Goode among their ranks, won the English Premiership in 2011, and were a formidable outfit in the season just gone, reaching the semi-finals of the domestic competition.

They topped pool one of the Heineken Cup in the season just gone when they were pitted against Munster, Racing Metro and Edinburgh, and were beaten 24-12 in the semi-final against Toulon.  Saracens and Connacht locked horns in a pre-season friendly in 2011 but haven’t actually faced each other in competition.

Local bookmakers John Mulholland was quick to offer odds on topping pool 3, with Toulouse favourites (8/11) followed by Saracens (11/10), Connacht (33/1) and Zebre (100/1).

Connacht once again have Leinster to thank for qualifying them for the competition after they won the Amlin Challenge Cup last month which automatically allowed a fourth Irish team into the Heineken.

Connacht players reacted to the draw immediately on Twitter. “A couple of massive games in Sportsground again to look forward to,” said Portumna’s John Muldoon, who expressed disappointment at not drawing Clermont and delight at not having to face Harlequins again. Centre Dave McSharry said it would be a “huge year” and that he “can’t wait”.

The squad is due to return to training this week with new manager Pat Lam, who replaces Eric Elwood, at the helm.