Magners League Official Website : Glasgow “really excited” by Heineken Cup draw

Glasgow “really excited” by Heineken Cup draw

14 June 2005, 1:02 pm

By Jonathan McConnell

Glasgow’s opponents in next season’s Heineken Cup tournament include Bath, the 1998 trophy winners. Bourgoin and Leinster are in the same pool.

"It's as good as we could have hoped for. It's really exciting,” Hugh Campbell, Glasgow’s has coach, commented in reacting to the news of the draw.

"We had a tough draw last season. But all of the games this time, too, will be challenging. That's to be expected at this level.

"We have a realistic chance of getting to the quarter-finals if we can win our home games and pick up at least one away win. We've played Bourgoin and Leinster in the past in Europe, and we've won our home games against them then."

Glasgow played against Bourgoin in the 2002-2003 Heineken tournament, losing 21-35 on their visit to France. But five days late, back on home territory at Hughenden, they edged out the French club by 13-12.

Glasgow and Leinster have met often enough over the years in Celtic tournaments, most recently in the cup quarter-final at Lansdowne Road a couple of months ago, when the Dublin team won 33-24. Their only previous Heineken meetings were in season 1999-2000, when Glasgow won 29-17 at Hughenden but lost 17-44 at Donnybrook.

This will be the first time that Glasgow have played European rugby against Bath, the 1998 Heineken Cup winners. The English club were led in that successful campaign by Andy Nicol, the Scotland scrum half who was later to become Glasgow’s captain.

Glasgow and Bath have previously met only once – a friendly at the Recreation Ground in January 2000, when the home club won by 18-17.

Meanwhile Chris Paterson, Edinburgh's international back, who is set to face London Wasps, Toulouse and Llanelli Scarlets, said:” It is a pretty difficult draw; however we feel that we let ourselves down this past year. We have a massive opportunity to play some top teams and win this year.”