Irish provinces facing tough Champions Cup group draw after seeding dip

Disappointing finishes in the URC season could prove costly to Irish sides

Leinster players, including Rory O'Loughlin and Jordan Larmour, after the United Rugby Championship Semi-Final defeat to the Vodacom Bulls at the RDS last weekend. Leinster will be second seeds in the Champions Cup draw later this month. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Ireland’s provinces are set to count the cost of disappointing finishes to the United Rugby Championship season when European rugby chiefs make the draw for next season’s Heineken Champions Cup pools later this month.

Leinster and Ulster both made exits at the URC semi-finals stage last weekend while Munster were ousted in the quarters with a knock-on effect on their seedings for the 2022-23 Champions Cup.