Baxter 'excited' with European draw

By Mark Stevens
9/3/21

Rob Baxter says he and his side are ‘excited’ at the challenge that lies ahead in the defence of their Heineken Champions Cup crown.

With the final two rounds of this season’s pool stages suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic, tournament organisers were forced to look at a new format once the competition got back underway next month.

Thankfully for the Chiefs - who impressed in their opening game, defeating Glasgow Warriors 42-0 at Sandy Park - they were included in the top 16 sides put into the pot for today’s draw in Lausanne.

In the live draw, the defending champions were handed a home tie against Top 14 side Lyon on the weekend of April 2/3/4.

It will signal a first-ever meeting between the two clubs, the victors of whom will have home advantage in the quarter-finals against either Leinster Rugby or RC Toulon the following weekend.

“It’s an exciting draw for us,” said Baxter, the Chiefs’ Director of Rugby. “At this stage of the competition, you know you’re going to be facing a good side. In our case, we’re also facing a side we’ve never played before, but we’re at home and it’s a great opportunity for us.

“The good thing about being home is that we know our place very well, we know the type of conditions that are here, and we don’t have to worry about travelling and all that comes with playing away from home.

“That said, it’s not going to be easy by any means. Lyon started the season very well and although they’ve dropped off a little bit, they’ll be like ourselves in the fact that they will be building for this game and a big end to the season over these next few weeks.

“We’ve got three big weeks in the Premiership coming up and then we’re back into Europe. It’s going to come quickly and we have to be ready and firing on all cylinders for when that game comes around.”

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP ROUND 16 DRAW

Munster Rugby v Toulouse

Gloucester v La Rochelle

Wasps v ASM Clermont Auvergne

Exeter Chiefs v Lyon

Leinster Rugby v RC Toulon

Bordeaux-Begles v Bristol Bears

Racing 92 v Edinburgh

Scarlets v Sale Sharks

Ties to be played April 2/3/4

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP QUARTER-FINAL DRAW

Exeter Chiefs or Lyon v Leinster Rugby or RC Toulon

Wasps or ASM Clermont Auvergne v Munster Rugby or Toulouse

Gloucester or La Rochelle v Scarlets or Sale Sharks

Bordeaux-Begles or Bristol Bears v Racing 92 or Edinburgh

Ties to be played April 9/10/11