Tough draw for Irish

CONNACHT and London Irish have interesting opponents in their Pool stages of the European Conference which was announced yesterday.

Connacht face England's Northampton and two sides from France, Nice and Begles-Bordeaux. The English side and Begles made it to the quarter-finals last season.

London Irish find themselves in an even more exotic group alongside a Romanian side and two French clubs Dax and Stade Francais. The French along with the Sunbury team advanced last year to the quarter-final stages with winners Bourgoin advancing to the European Cup proper where they will face Munster in Pool D of that competition.

The Conference this year has expanded from 24 to 32 teams due mainly to a 50 per cent rise in the number of French clubs. The eight Pool winners will receive £7,500 with the semi-finalists earning an additional £20,000. The two finalists will net a further £30,000 each.