Five-time finalists Leicester Tigers are among the top seeds, alongside 2009 winners Leinster, 2008 champions Munster, Bath Rugby, Biarritz and Toulouse.
The 2009/10 competition kicks-off on the weekend of October 9/10/11 and climaxes in the 2010 final at Stade de France on Saturday, May 22.
For the purpose of the draw, the 24 teams are ranked based on their ERC European rankings – determined by European performance over the past four seasons - and are divided into four tiers. Each pool will have one team from each of the four tier levels.
No two teams from the same country can be drawn in the same pool except for the seventh English club (Harlequins based on European ranking) who will be drawn into a pool with another English team.
Heineken Cup 2009/10
Tier 1: Leinster, Munster, Leicester Tigers, Toulouse, Bath Rugby, Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque
Tier 2: Cardiff Blues, Stade Français Paris, Gloucester Rugby, Perpignan, Ospreys, London Irish
Tier 3: Northampton Saints, Sale Sharks, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Scarlets, Ulster Rugby, Newport Gwent Dragons
Tier 4: Harlequins, Glasgow Warriors, Edinburgh, Benetton Treviso, Brive, Viadana
