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French giants await both Munster and Leinster in Heineken Champions Cup

Munster and Toulouse will renew their famous European rivalry in the last 16 of the Heineken Cham...



Munster and Toulouse will renew their famous European rivalry in the last 16 of the Heineken Champions Cup, while Leinster will host three-time champions Toulon.

The Irish pair were guaranteed home advantage in the first knockout round, having won two games from two in the pool stages.

But should they win their last 16 ties, both Irish provinces would have to play away from home in the quarter finals.

Johann van Graan's side will lock horns with the side they faced in the 2008 final, and their breakthrough semi-final of 2000, while Leo Cullen's Leinster will face Toulon in a repeat of the 2015 semi-final, which the French side won after extra time.

If Munster see off the challenge of last year's semi-finalists they will face a daunting away visit to either Wasps or Clermont, having beaten the latter at Stade Marcel Michelin in the pool stage in December.

Meanwhile Leinster's reward for beating Toulon would also be an away quarter final, against either defending champions Exeter or French side Lyon, whom they faced in last season's pool stage.

Exact kickoff times are yet to be confirmed, with the round of 16 to be played on the weekend of April 4/5/6, while the quarter finals will take place the following weekend.

FULL DRAW:

Heineken Champions Cup round of 16

Munster v Toulouse

Gloucester v La Rochelle

Wasps v Clermont Auvergne

Exeter Chiefs v Lyon

Leinster v Toulon

Bordeaux-Begles v Bristol Bears

Racing 92 v Edinburgh

Scarlets v Sale Sharks

Heineken Champions Cup quarter finals

Exeter Chiefs or Lyon v Leinster or Toulon

Wasps or Clermont Auvergne v Munster or Toulouse

Gloucester or La Rochelle v Scarlets or Sale Sharks

Bordeaux-Begles or Bristol Bears v Racing 92 or Edinburgh.

Challenge Cup

Meanwhile, both Ulster and Connacht have been drawn away to Premiership opposition in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup.

Ulster will take on a familiar opponent in the form of three-time champions Harlequins, whom they beat twice in last season's Heineken Champions Cup pool stage.

And should Ulster come through that game, they'll be away again in the last eight against either the Dragons or Northampton.

Connacht have been handed a tough draw, away to the Leicester Tigers, who were guaranteed to play at Welford Road following their 100 percent record earlier in the competition.

However, Andy Friend's side would have home advantage in the quarter finals if they can come through that test, with the winner set to face either the Ospreys of Newcastle Falcons.

For more of these stories, visit otbsports.com.

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Heineken Champions Cup Leinster Rugby Munster Rugby Rugby