PRO12 champions Connacht will face trips to Wasps, Toulouse and Zebre aftering being drawn in Pool 2 for next season's Champion's Cup at this afternoon's draw in Neuchatal, Switzerland.
That is about as handy a draw as Connacht could have wished for as, for the first time in their history, they approach a European campaign with hopes of reaching the latter stages.
Leo Cullen's Leinster will have their passports stamped to Montpellier, Northampton and Castres while Munster, ranked in tier 4 this time around, will look to rebound from a thoroughly depressing season when Axel Foley's charges head to Racing 92, Glasgow Warriors and Leicester.
Ulster, with new southern hemisphere imports Charles Piutau and Marcell Coetzee in their ranks, have been handed what is one of the most exciting draws in the competion where they will face the attacking flair of Exeter, Clermont and Bordeaux.
The draw has thrown up a few interesting subplots for the Irish provinces. Chief among them will be Ronan O'Gara's return to Thomond Park as a member of the Racing 92 coaching staff, while the duel between Paddy Jackson's Ulster and Ian Madigan's Bordeaux will be fascinating.
Leinster, seeded in the first tier, will be looking to reestablish themselves at European rugby's top table but have suffered a blow to their hopes with the recent retirement of Luke Fitzgerald.
The groups in full:
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