CONNACHT WILL FACE a nightmare away trip to Russia, after drawing new boys Enisei STM in Pool 1 of the Challenge Cup.
The Russian champions, who will play their home games in Sochi, 2,282 miles away from Galway, are joined by Newcastle Falcons and Brive in a competitive looking Pool 1, but a glance at the teams missed by Connacht would suggest they have don’t quite well.
Pay Lam’s side avoided big Tier 2 names Harlequins and Gloucester, instead drawing Top 14 side Brive.
Elsewhere, Bernard Jackman’s Grenoble have been placed in Pool 5, alongside last season’s runners up Edinburgh, London Irish and fellow Top 14 side Agen.
Pool 3 looks certain to be the group of death though, with Montpellier and Harlequins paired together, with both sides recruiting plenty of international stars this summer, while Cardiff Blues and Calvisano also join the Pool 3 party.
POOL 1
Connacht
Brive
Newcastle Falcons
Enisei-STM
POOL 2
Sale Sharks
Newport Gwent Dragons
Castres
Pau
POOL 3
Montpellier
Harlequins
Cardiff Blues
Calvisano
POOL 4
La Rochelle
Gloucester
Zebre
Worcester
POOL 5
Edinburgh
London Irish
Grenoble
Agen
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