Saints' European fate has been decided as the draw for next season's European Champions Cup takes place in Neuchâtel.
Made to wait for the very last ball to be chosen from the drums, Saints were placed into Pool 2 of the competition alongside last year's runner's Clermont Auvergne and reigning champions Saracens as well as Pro 12 side Ospreys.
Only having faced their French opposition three times before in history, the first team into Saints' pool was top tier seed Clermont. Last facing each other in the 2014/15 Champions Cup quarter-final, where Saints suffered a 37-5 loss at the Stade Marcel Michelin, the current Top 14 Champions will prove a huge challenge for Saints.
Next out of the drum and placed into Pool 2: Saracens. Though less of an unknown, the back-to-back Champions Cup champions are no less of a threat. Looking to defend their title for the second time and break history with a triple win, this season's Aviva Premiership semi-finalists have an impressive European record that Saints will have to work hard to break.
Tier three saw Saints' Pro 12 opposition added in the form of Ospreys. Though the welsh side have only ever made it to the quarter-final stage of the European Champions Cup, Ospreys finished fourth in last season's Pro 12 and progressed to the semi-finals. Being drawn against each other in the Champions Cup in consecutive seasons between 2013 and 2015, Saints have never lost to Ospreys in Europe, or in fact in any competition.
Though details of the fixtures for 2017/18 are yet to be announced, initial interests for official club trips for away games can be registered by emailing [email protected]
EPCR key dates – 2017/18 season
Round 1: 12/13/14/15 October
Round 2: 19/20/21/22 October
Round 3: 7/8/9/10 December
Round 4: 14/15/16/17 December
Round 5: 11/12/13/14 January 2018
Round 6: 18/19/20/21 January 2018
Quarter-finals: 29/30/31 March – 1 April 2018
Semi-finals: 20/21/22 April 2018
Bilbao Finals 2018
Challenge Cup final: Friday 11 May, San Mamés Stadium
Champions Cup final: Saturday 12 May, San Mamés Stadium
The only way to guarantee your way into all of these top rugby matches and see the best sides in Europe faced off is by becoming a Saints Season Ticket Holder. CLICK HERE to seal your spot at Franklin's Gardens for next season.
