Wasps open their Cup defence with another French challenge
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Wasps will face a resurgent Leicester and crack French outfit Biarritz when they defend their Heineken Cup crown.
The double winners were handed a hugely demanding pool, made up by Italian side Calvisano, in next season's tournament.
Last year's runners-up Toulouse face Glasgow, Northampton and perennial Welsh challengers Llanelli Scarlets.
Pool Six is perhaps the most challenging, including Cardiff Blues, Gloucester, 1999 Cup winners Ulster and French champions Stade Francais.
Wasps have effectively paid the price for their victory in May securing an extra berth for English clubs, with Leicester claiming the last spot as Zurich Wildcard winners.
It will be the first time in the tournament's 10-year history that two Zurich Premiership sides have met in the pool stages.
The pair will meet in back-to-back contests in December, with Wasps due to launch their title defence with a home game against Biarritz on the weekend of 23-24 October.
"It's great to be able to start with a home game," said Wasps captain Lawrence Dallaglio.
"Biarritz were French champions two years ago and showed their class by beating Llanelli away from home in the quarter-finals last season so they are bound to give us a really tough opener.
"The games against Leicester are going to be huge affairs and there will be a lot of domestic pride at stake.
"We know each other inside out and there is a massive amount of respect for what they have achieved at Leicester."
Pool 1: London Wasps, Calvisano, Biarritz Olympique, Leicester Tigers
Pool 2: Benetton Treviso, Leinster, Bath Rugby, Bourgoin
Pool 3: Llanelli Scarlets, Glasgow Rugby, Northampton Saints, Toulouse
Pool 4: Munster, Neath-Swansea Ospreys, Castres Olympique, NEC Harlequins
Pool 5: Edinburgh Rugby, Perpignan, Newport Gwent Dragons, Newcastle Falcons
Pool 6: Stade Francais Paris, Ulster, Cardiff Blues, Gloucester
Heineken Cup 2004/05 dates:
Round One: 22/23/24 October
Round Two: 29/30/31 October
Round Three: 3/4/5 December
Round Four: 10/11/12 December
Round Five: 7/8/9 January
Round Six: 14/15/16 January
Quarter-finals: 1/2/3 April
Semi-finals: 22/23/24 April
Final (Murrayfield): 21/22 May