Just one to go – 23 of the 24 qualifiers for the 16th Heineken Cup tournament have been confirmed and Cardiff Blues will be in Tier 1 for the 2010/11 draw.

Just one to go – 23 of the 24 qualifiers for the 16th Heineken Cup tournament have been confirmed and Cardiff Blues will be in Tier 1 for the 2010/11 draw.

The winners of both the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup earn an additional place for their nation in the following season’s Heineken Cup tournament, although both England and France are capped at a maximum of seven places.

France are guaranteed to provide the Heineken Cup champions when Biarritz Olympique and Toulouse contest the landmark 15th tournament final at Stade de France on Saturday, 22 May, so France have been awarded an additional place and will have seven teams in the 2010/11 competition.

The 24th and final place will depend on the result of the Amlin Challenge Cup final between Cardiff Blues and RC Toulon at Stade Velodrome in Marseille on Sunday, 23 May.

The last spot will go to either Wales – if Cardiff Blues win – or the highest ranked team in the ERC European Rankings if Toulon win.

If the Blues win the Scarlets will qualify.

If Toulon win then 13th placed Gloucester Rugby are the highest placed club in the ERC European Rankings from the other five nations who has not already qualified and so will secure that final place in next season’s Heineken Cup.

The six Tier 1 teams – Munster, Toulouse, Leinster, Leicester Tigers, Biarritz Olympique and Cardiff Blues – will be kept apart in the draw for the six Pools of four teams each for the 2010/11 tournament.

ENGLAND (6): Leicester Tigers, Northampton Saints, Saracens, Bath Rugby, London Wasps, London Irish
FRANCE: (7): Perpignan, RC Toulon, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Toulouse, Castres Olympique, Racing-Metro 92, Biarritz Olympique
IRELAND: (3): Leinster, Munster, Ulster Rugby
ITALY (2): Benetton Treviso, Aironi Rugby
SCOTLAND (2): Glasgow Warriors, Edinburgh
WALES (3): Ospreys, Cardiff Blues, Newport Gwent Dragons