Embarrassed Heineken Cup organisers were yesterday forced to delay the scheduled announcement of next season's pool draw after failing to confirm in what order the French clubs should be seeded for the tournament.

The problem centres around Agen, who qualify as finalists in last weekend's French Championship but have been suspended from European participation for 12 months as punishment for their deliberate loss to Ebbw Vale in the pool stages of this year's Parker Pen Shield.

When the latest administrative fiasco is resolved, however, the champions Leicester can expect to share a pool with Beziers and Neath, and Gloucester face home and away encounters with this year's beaten finalists Munster. The fixture dates will be announced on June 27.

Sale, poised to make their Heineken Cup debut in the same pool as the Welsh-Scottish champions Llanelli, have pulled off a major summer coup by signing the Australia three-quarter Graeme Bond on a two-year contract. Bond, 28, was among the more impressive backs the Lions encountered last summer but has fallen down the selectorial pecking order under the new coach Eddie Jones.

The new Jack Rowell era at Bath may not involve Mike Catt amid continuing rumours that the England centre has fallen out with certain individuals at the club. Among those watching developments are Leeds, whose chief executive Gary Hetherington has already made tentative inquiries about the 30-year-old.

"The information we have been given is that there has been an acrimonious split between Mike and Bath, and we have expressed an interest," said Hetherington.

Ireland have called up the Munster flanker David Wallace, controversially omitted from their original tour squad, as cover prior to the first Test against New Zealand this weekend.

Injuries to Eric Miller and Alan Quinlan have prompted the coach Eddie O'Sullivan to summon Wallace from San Francisco where he was on holiday.