Neath face the formidable challenge of holders Leicester at the Gnoll in the first group match of next season's Heineken Cup.

The Welsh All Blacks then face a tricky trip to meet French side Beziers before having two games against the easier Italian opponents of Amatori & Calvisano.

Cardiff have an equally tough opener at home when the competition starts in October.

They face French domestic champions Biarritz and then two successive away games at Ulster and Northampton.

Newport and Llanelli both start against Scottish opposition.

Last season's semi-finalists Llanelli are home to Glasgow, before travelling to Bourgoin and Sale.

Said Llanelli coach Gareth Jenkins: "Winning the Heineken Cup is the one achievement that still eludes us.

"It's a tournament that a great club like ours should be winning. it would be the icing on the cake of a great period of success for Llanelli if we could do it."

Newport travel to Edinburgh, before entertaining Toulouse and London Irish.

Swansea also have a highly tricky opener at Montferrand before welcoming Irish province Leinster and English side Bristol to St Helen's.

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Fixture dates for the 2002-03 Heineken Cup:

ROUND 1 - (October 11, 12 and 13)

Pool 1: Amatori & Calvisano v Beziers, Neath v Leicester
Pool 2: Gloucester v Munster, Perpignan v Viadana
Pool 3: Llanelli v Glasgow, Sale v Bourgoin
Pool 4: Montferrand v Swansea, Leinster v Bristol
Pool 5: Toulouse v London Irish, Edinburgh v Newport
Pool 6: Cardiff v Biarritz, Northampton v Ulster

ROUND 2 - (October 18, 19 and 20)

Pool 1: Leicester v Amatori & Calvisano, Beziers v Neath
Pool 2: Viadana v Gloucester, Munster v Perpignan
Pool 3: Glasgow v Sale, Bourgoin v Llanelli
Pool 4: Bristol v Montferrand, Swansea v Leinster
Pool 5: London Irish v Edinburgh, Newport v Toulouse
Pool 6: Ulster v Cardiff, Biarritz v Northampton

ROUND 3 - (December 6, 7 and 8)

Pool 1: Beziers v Leicester, Amatori & Calvisano v Neath
Pool 2: Munster v Viadana, Gloucester v Perpignan
Pool 3: Sale v Llanelli, Bourgoin v Glasgow
Pool 4: Montferrand v Leinster, Swansea v Bristol
Pool 5: Edinburgh v Toulouse, Newport v London Irish
Pool 6: Ulster v Biarritz, Northampton v Cardiff

ROUND 4 - (December 13, 14 and 15)

Pool 1: Leicester v Beziers, Neath v Amatori & Calvisano
Pool 2: Viadana v Munster, Perpignan v Gloucester
Pool 3: Llanelli v Sale, Glasgow v Bourgoin
Pool 4: Bristol v Swansea, Leinster v Montferrand
Pool 5: Toulouse v Edinburgh, London Irish v Newport
Pool 6: Cardiff v Northampton, Biarritz v Ulster

ROUND 5 - ( January 10, 11 and 12)

Pool 1: Neath v Beziers, Amatori & Calvisano v Leicester
Pool 2: Perpignan v Munster, Gloucester v Viadana
Pool 3: Llanelli v Bourgoin, Sale v Glasgow
Pool 4: Leinster v Swansea, Montferrand v Bristol
Pool 5: Toulouse v Newport, Edinburgh v London Irish
Pool 6: Cardiff v Ulster, Northampton v Biarritz

ROUND 6 - (January 17, 18 and 19)

Pool 1: Leicester v Neath, Beziers v Amatori & Calvisano
Pool 2: Viadana v Perpignan, Munster v Gloucester
Pool 3: Bourgoin v Sale, Glasgow v Llanelli
Pool 4: Bristol v Leinster, Swansea v Montferrand
Pool 5: Newport v Edinburgh, London Irish v Toulouse
Pool 6: Biarritz v Cardiff, Ulster v Northampton

QUARTER-FINALS - To be played April 11, 12 and 13
SEMI-FINALS - To be played April 26 and 27
FINAL - To be played May 24.

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Heineken Cup Pools:

Pool One: Beziers, Amatori & Calvisano, Leicester, Neath.
Pool Two: Gloucester, Munster, Perpignan, Viadana.
Pool Three: Glasgow, Llanelli, Bourgoin, Sale.
Pool Four: Bristol, Leinster, Montferrand, Swansea.
Pool Five: Edinburgh, Newport, London Irish, Toulouse.
Pool Six: Biarritz, Northampton, Cardiff, Ulster.