Heineken Cup qualifiers 2009/10

Neither club has qualified for the 2009/2010 Heineken Cup through their domestic leagues but the Twickenham Stoop winner will be among the 24 elite clubs in Europe next season as the tournament winners.

While that issue will not be settled until late on that Friday night, the 24th place play-off match will be played in Italy a week later on Friday, 29 May, between Newport Gwent Dragons - the highest non automatic Magners League qualifier - and the losing Italian semi-finalist who finished the higher in the regular Super 10 season.

The Scarlets' win at Cardiff Blues last night ensured their qualification among the 18 teams who have booked their places in European club rugby's premier competition. Four former Heineken Cup champions - Munster, Leicester Tigers, Toulouse and Bath Rugby - along with 2009 finalists Leinster and Biaritz Olympique will take up the six Tier 1 places for the draw for the six Pools of four teams each for the 15th season of the tournament.



ENGLAND (6 of 7): Leicester Tigers, Harlequins, London Irish, Bath Rugby, Sale Sharks, Gloucester Rugby
To qualify: One from London Wasps (Guinness Premiership 7th) or Northampton Saints (European Challenge Cup finalists)
FRANCE: (5 of 6): Biarritz Olympique, Perpignan, Toulouse, Stade Francais Paris, ASM Clermont Auvergne
To qualify: Brive or Bourgoin (European Challenge Cup finalists)
IRELAND: (3 of 3): Munster, Leinster, Ulster Rugby
ITALY (0 of 2): The Italian Championship finalists - and automatic Heineken Cup qualifiers - will be known on Saturday, 23 May, after the second leg of their semi-finals.
To qualify: The two Championship finalists from Viadana, Benetton Treviso, Rugby Calvisano and Rugby Rovigo
SCOTLAND (2 of 2): Edinburgh, Glasgow Warriors
WALES (3 of 3): Ospreys, Cardiff Blues, Scarlets