Racing rematch for Glasgow Warriors in Champions Cup

GLASGOW Warriors will need to come through a tough group if they are to reach the knockout stage of the European Champions Cup after being handed a challenging draw in Switzerland.

Glasgow Warriors coach Gregor Townsend faces a return to Paris to face Racing 92

Gregor Townsend’s side have been placed in Pool 1 alongside last season’s runners-up Racing 92, English Premiership side Leicester Tigers and Guinness Pro12 rivals Munster.

Glasgow faced Racing 92, who boast a star-studded squad including Dan Carter, in last year’s competition, losing in Paris but defeating the French side at Kilmarnock. The away match was re-arranged after being postponed due to the Paris terror attacks, while the return was moved to Rugby Park due to Scotstoun being waterlogged.

The first round of European fixtures will take place on the weekend of 13/14/15/16 October followed by round two a week later, with the final to be played at BT Murrayfield next May. The final of the Challenge Cup, which saw Edinburgh drawn with Harlequins, Stade Francais and Timisoara, will also be played at Scotland’s national stadium.

Glasgow, who have never progressed from the group stage before, will also face two-time European and ten-time English champions Leicester, as well as old foes Munster.

The Irish province are also two-time European champions and provided the opposition in Belfast last May when the Warriors won the Guinness Pro12 final.

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP 2016-17 DRAW

Pool 1: Racing 92, GLASGOW WARRIORS, Leicester Tigers, Munster

Pool 2: Connacht, Wasps, Toulouse, Zebre

Pool 3: Saracens, Toulon, Scarlets, Sale Sharks

Pool 4: Leinster, Montpellier, Northampton Saints, Castres

Pool 5: Exeter Chiefs. Clermont-Auvergne, Ulster, Bordeaux