Leinster in top tier for next season

LEINSTER WON’T have to wait long before finding out who they will face when they begin their defence next season

LEINSTER WON’T have to wait long before finding out who they will face when they begin their defence next season. The draw for next year’s tournament will take place in the week that starts this day fortnight.

After their 19-16 triumph over Leicester, Leinster will be among the six seeds to comprise Tier One.

Twenty-three of the 24 teams for next season are known. The second Italian team was decided last night when Treviso beat Calvisano 15-6 in the second semi-final in the Italian Top-10. The 24th team in the tournament will be decided next Friday when the Dragons face Calvisano.

TIER ONE(2009/10): Leinster, Munster, Leicester, Toulouse, Bath, Biarritz Olympique.

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OTHER QUALIFIERS(by nation): England– London Irish, Harlequins, Sale, Gloucester, Northampton. France– Perpignan, Clermont Auvergne, Stade Francais, Brive. Ireland– Ulster. Wales– Ospreys, Cardiff, Scarlets. Scotland– Edinburgh, Glasgow. Italy– Viadana, Treviso.