Tigers have been drawn alongside ASM Clermont Auvergne, Ulster and Aironi in the pool stages of European competition in 2011/12.
Among the new arrivals at ASM ahead of the club’s centenary season is former Tigers hooker Benjamin Kayser who spent last season at Castres.
A Heineken Cup finalist with Tigers in 2009, Kayser reinforces a front row which will be without Argentina veteran Mario Ledesma, who is to become forwards coach at Stade Francais.
Other new arrivals include Wales full-back Lee Byrne, former Scarlets centre Regan King, Scotland lock Nathan Hines and France international fly-half David Skrela.
Former Tigers fly-half Ian Humphreys has made his home at Ulster, playing alongside South Africa international scrum-half Ruan Pienaar, who was named Magners League player of the year in 2010/11 and played for the Springboks in that never-to-be-forgotten game with Tigers at Welford Road in 2009.
The Ulster squad also includes Ireland internationals Stephen Ferris, Rory Best, Tom Court and Andrew Trimble, plus Scotland wing Simon Danielli.
Summer signings at the Northern Irish province include full-back/centre Jared Payne and prop John Afoa, both currently with Auckland Blues in New Zealand.
Italian side Aironi have made one of Europe’s most eye-catching signings of the summer so far with the announcement that they have recruited Italy full-back Andrea Masi, the 2011 Six Nations Player of the Tournament.
On the back of a first season in the Celtic League, Aironi have been adding strength to their squad, with Masi returning to the club where he played for three seasons up to 2006 before moving to France with Biarritz and then Racing Metro.
Aironi have also signed South African flanker Frans Viljoen, hooker Tommaso D’Apice and scrum-half Tyson Keats, an Air New Zealand Cup winner with Canterbury.
Naas Olivier moves from South African rugby and will contest the fly-half shirt with Italy international Luciano Orquera who has spent six years in France with Auch and Brive.
Domestic signings include full-back Ruggero Trevisan and flanker Filippo Ferrarini from Crociati Parma.
The order of fixtures, dates and times, for the Heineken Cup will be determined following discussions between tournament organisers ERC and their broadcast partners.
Heineken Cup pool stage fixtures are included in Tigers season tickets, available now.
