A new merit-based ranking system will be used to draw up the pools in future Heineken European Cup competitions. It means consistently-successful Heineken Cup teams like Munster, Toulouse and Leicester are likely to avoid each other in the group stage.

This season's tournament saw sides drawn at random, except each competing country's respective top seed, who were kept apart.

And it resulted in the six pools having a lopsided appearance, with two groups each containing two former European champions when Munster and and Wasps were drawn alongside each other, plus Toulouse and Leicester.

The Munster pool also contained French giants Clermont Auvergne and three-time Heineken semi-finalists Llanelli, while Michael Cheika's Leinster also featured in Leicester's group.

Only one point separated the top three teams in Munster's group, whereas the leading three sides covered a 16-point span in two other pools where the second-placed teams — Perpignan and Ospreys — filled best runner-up vacancies in the quarter-finals.

European Rugby Cup Limited say the new system "aims to reward and incentivise teams who consistently perform at the highest level in European competition over four seasons by separating the leading teams in the pool stages."

The 24 competing teams will continue to qualify through their domestic tournaments. And they will then, for purposes of the pool draw, be awarded different points for their finishing positions in the Heineken Cup and European Challenge Cup over the previous four seasons.

Teams can earn between one and 11 points each season in the Heineken Cup, and up to five points in the European Challenge Cup to go towards their four-season ranking.

The rankings will establish four tiers of six teams each, with the reigning Heineken Cup champions automatically going into top spot of tier one, along with Europe's other currently most successful teams.

Rankings published for the first time today show the top six places currently filled by Munster, Toulouse, Biarritz, Leicester, Stade Francais and Wasps. Leinster are just outside the top six in seventh while Ulster are down in 21st while Connacht, who could yet qualify ahead of Ulster for the first time, are ranked 33rd.

The draw for next season's tournament takes place in June, with existing criteria of no teams from the same country being drawn in the same pools continuing, apart from when England or France provide seven qualifiers.

ERC chairman Jean-Pierre Lux said: "We believe this new ranking system to be a major and important step forward in the on-going development and growth of European club rugby's premier tournaments.

"It is a bold move that reflects the positive thinking of those involved in the ERC competitions following the signing of the recent 2007 Accord. European results have become the accepted yardstick by which clubs judge themselves.

"And now, those same results will have a direct bearing on their European rankings as we look forward to the initiative enhancing both tournaments in the seasons ahead."