The draw for the Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup took place in Dublin this afternoon with all four of the Welsh sides eagerly awaiting their European opponents for the 2022/23 season.
After the disappointing season for the four Welsh clubs in the United Rugby Championship, the Ospreys are the only side to feature in the Champions Cup as they sneaked through the back door as they won the Welsh shield to book their place alongside Europe’s elite.
Cardiff, Scarlets and the newly rebranded Dragons RFC will be playing in the Challenge Cup.
So, where will supporters of the four Welsh teams will be planning their trips this season?
Scarlets
Dwayne Peel’s side will be tested against European and South African opposition this season as they will welcome the Cheetahs back to Parc Y Scarlets aswell as French side Bayonne.
Despite being based in South Africa, the Cheetahs will be playing their games in Europe as they will relocated to Parma for their European games.
Bayonne on the other hand have recently been promoted to the TOP 14 after winning the Pro D2 last season.
It will mean that former Scarlets and Cheetahs number eight Uzair Cassiem will return to Llanelli to face his former club.
Dragons
After appointing a new head coach in Dai Flanagan with Dean Ryan moving upstairs to take the director of rugby position.
Although they will spend another season in the Challenge Cup and will face Wasps who finished 9th in the Gallagher Premiership last season and reached the semi-final of this competition.
They will also play Section Paloise, otherwise known as Pau and will be a good weekend away for the men of Gwent.
Cardiff
Dai Young’s side will meet Newcastle Falcons again after they met during the 2020/21 season, the Falcons finished 13th in the Gallagher Premiership last season.
However, they have had European success over a Welsh side in the last couple of years as they beat the Ospreys in the round of 16 in this tournament.
It will be an encounter against French side Brive which could be pivotal to their season’s aspirations as the French side is known for not taking Europe seriously despite winning the Champions Cup back in 1997.
A real possibility for Cardiff to progress into the knockouts this season.
Ospreys
Finally, it is going to be one big mountain for the Ospreys in the Champions Cup.
A throwback to the late 2000s and early 2010s as they will battle it out against their old foe and current Premiership Champions Leicester Tigers.
However, they will battle against the Top 14 Champions too as they will meet Montpellier for the first time.
For both European competitions, the opening round will take place on the weekend starting on the 9th of December with round two the following weekend.
The third round will take place on the weekend of the 13th. Of January with the fourth and final round of the pool stages the following weekend.
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