Scotland full-back Hogg – who toured with the Lions on both the 2013 and 2017 Tours – left his home club of Glasgow Warriors in the summer to join Exeter Chiefs.
And as luck should have it, the Chiefs have been paired with the Warriors – where Hogg spent nine seasons until departing this summer – in Pool 2 alongside La Rochelle and Sale Sharks.
Reflecting on today’s draw, Chiefs Director of Rugby Rob Baxter said: “It was almost destined that with us having signed Stuart from Glasgow this season that he would end up facing them in Europe. I think he even predicted it himself in an interview last week!
“Having played Glasgow in the past, we know they will pose a tough challenge to us. They have a team packed with Scottish internationals and are a team, a bit like ourselves, who really like to attack.
“A couple of years ago we got the better of them here in the early rounds, but then they got their own back on us by beating us in that final round game up in the snow.”
📰 | Stuart Hogg will return to Scotstoun next season with @ExeterChiefs, while the Warriors have also been drawn with @staderochelais & @SaleSharksRugby in Pool 2 of the @ChampionsCup.https://t.co/T7H1pc54XU
— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) June 19, 2019
In other news, Hogg’s fellow tourist from 2017 in New Zealand and now Chiefs teammate Jack Nowell successfully underwent ankle surgery.
The England winger should be fit for England’s Rugby World Cup campaign in Japan at the end of the year.
Defending European champions Saracens, led by Lion Brad Barritt, have a tough pool that includes Munster and Racing 92.
Elsewhere Leinster, beaten finalists last month in Newcastle, are in with Benetton, Northampton Saints and Lyon.
ASM Clermont Auvergne are paried with Ulster, Harlequins and Bath while Toulouse, Gloucester, Connacht and Montpellier round out the Pools.
