Start planning your weekends lads…
The fixture list for the pool stages of the inaugural European Rugby Champions Cup has been announced as Leinster, Munster and Ulster all vie to lift the biggest prize in European club rugby.
Anthony Foley will take charge of Munster for the first time in European competition when his side travel to Sale in the opening round. Six days later, last years beaten finalists Saracens travel to Thomond Park while Clermont Auvergne await in the crucial back-to-back fixtures.
Munster last faced Clermont in the 2013 Heineken Cup semi-final, the French side taking the spoils on the day 16-10 as Ronan O’Gara bowed out of European competition. A trip to London to face Saracens is next on the calender before they finish at home to Sale.
Leinster open against Wasps at the RDS, JOE still has memories of that O’Driscoll try in our heads, before travelling to face Castres. The Pro 12 champions beat the French side both home and away in last season’s Heineken Cup.
Conor O’Shea’s Harlequins await in a potentially decisive double header before Matt O’Connors men finish up at home to Castres before facing the two time European champions Wasps in London.
Ulster face a tricky opening tie against Leicester in Welford Road and it doesn’t get much easier with European Champions Toulon travelling to Kingspan Stadium a week later.
The Scarlets stand in their way during December’s back-to-back fixtures before they make the daunting trip to the South of France. The province will finish at home against Leicester.
European Rugby Champions Cup Fixtures:
Round 1
Saturday October 18th
Sale Sharks v Munster
Leicester v Ulster
Sunday, 19 October
Leinster v London Wasps
Round 2
Friday, 24 October
Munster v Saracens
Saturday, 25 October
Ulster v Toulon
Sunday, 26 October
Castres Olympique v Leinster
Round 3
5/6/7 December
Munster v Clermont
Harlequins v Leinster
Ulster v Scarlets
Round 4
12/13/14 December
Clermont v Munster
Leinster v Harlequins (Aviva Stadium)
Scarlets v Ulster
Round 5
16/17/17 January 2015
Saracens v Munster
Leinster v Castres Olympique
Toulon v Ulster
Round 6
23/24/25 January 2015
Munster v Sale
London Wasps v Leinster
Ulster v Leicester Tigers
It goes without saying but JOE wishes all the provinces the very best of luck and we wll of course be bringing you all the latest news as the tournament unfolds.
