Foley chasing European double with Munster

Foley, now head coach at Thomond Park, was No.8 and skipper when the Munstermen beat Biarritz 23-19 at the Millennium Stadium in May 2006, crowned champions of the continent.

Another title followed in 2008 but since then, last year's GUINNESS PRO12 semi-finalists have yet to return to the biggest stage in European rugby.

A slow start to this league season, including home defeats to Edinburgh and Ospreys, came to a sudden halt on Saturday when Foley's men downed rivals Leinster 34-23 at the Aviva Stadium.

They will be hoping to back that up on Friday, when Scarlets come to town, and take the momentum into this season's European Rugby Champions Cup the following weekend.

A pool containing Saracens, Clermont Auvergne and Sale Sharks will ensure repeating Foley's feats on 2006 is a tall order, but he is not short of confidence.

"I envy the players," said Foley at the competition launch in Dublin. "They have a great competition in front of them and I hope they enjoy it.

"We are improving. There is a new coaching staff and a few new players. We are going to get better next week and hopefully we will get better as we go along.

"That is the challenge but also the excitement."

Also involved in the competition are six more GUINNESS PRO12 outfits: Leinster, Ulster, Glasgow Warriors, Scarlets, Ospreys and Benetton Treviso.

Ospreys and the Warriors have each made a blistering start to the league season, winning all of their five opening clashes.

However, neither had great reason to be pleased with their European exploits last season, finishing bottom of pools one and two respectively.

Last year's losing PRO12 finalists Glasgow have been pitted against French duo Montpellier and Toulouse, as well as high-flying Bath, and scrum-half Henry Pyrgos is eager to test himself against some fearsome opposition.

"Every group is really tough," said Pyrgos. "We know that coming in.

"It's exciting when you look at Bath, who are obviously a huge club that have won if before. Toulouse are past winners as well and Montpellier - these are some great places to go.

"It is really exciting for the guys and I am sure they can't wait but first up is Bath so we will be concentrating on that and taking it from there."

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