Scarlets to take on former champions Toulon in Europe

Scarlets have been drawn into pool 5 of the 2017-18 European Rugby Champions Cup alongside former European Rugby Champions Cup winners Toulon, Aviva Premiership side Bath Rugby and fellow PRO12 side Benetton Rugby.
 
Scarlets will once again face former European Rugby Champions Toulon who lost out to ASM Clermont Auvergne in the recent Top 14 final. Scarlets secured a home victory over the French side at Parc y Scarlets in the competition last season and will look to go one better securing a victory away from home in 2017-18.
 
The Rag Doll was once hotly contested between Scarlets and Bath Rugby with the two sides not facing each other in the European competition since 2002.
 
Scarlets were victorious in January 2002 securing their place in the semi-final of the competition after beating Bath Rugby in the re-arranged fixture. Scarlets’ assistant coach Stephen Jones was named man of the match after scoring all of the region’s 27 points through eight penalties and a drop goal.
 
The fourth team, named in pool five of the 2017-18 European Rugby Champions Cup, is Benetton Rugby, a side that Scarlets know well from Guinness PRO12 challenges but this will be the first time the two sides will meet in Europe.
 
Commenting on the draw Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac said: “The make-up of the groups in this year’s competition just goes to show the calibre of the competition with no team facing an easy challenge.
 
“Winning the Guinness PRO12 means that we head into this season’s competition as top seed but we face another tough challenge as we take on former champions and Top 14 finalists Toulon once again.
 
“We are familiar with Toulon having faced them in the last few seasons in Europe but will want to build on our last performance, and victory, against them at Parc y Scarlets back in December.
 
“Bath is a team we faced in the Anglo-Welsh Cup last season but will be a very different side in Europe, as of course will we. There’s a long-standing tradition and heritage between the two sides and we’ll look forward to taking on the likes of former Scarlets Rhys Priestland.
 
“Treviso is a side we also know well through Guinness PRO12 competition however as I’ve previously mentioned it’s not an easy place to go and will be mindful of that as we prepare to take them on in Europe.”
 
European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 5;
Scarlets
Toulon
Bath Rugby
Benetton Rugby
 
Champions Cup weekends;
 
Round 1: 12/13/14/15 October 2017
Round 2: 19/20/21/22 October 2017
Round 3: 7/8/9/10 December 2017
Round 4: 14/15/16/17 December 2017
Round 5: 11/12/13/14 January 2018
Round 6: 18/19/20/21 January 2018
Quarter-finals: 29/30/31 March / 1 April 2018
Semi-finals: 20/21/22 April 2018
 
Challenge Cup final: Friday 11 May 2018 (San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao)
Champions Cup final: Saturday 12 May 2018 (San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao)