Leinster’s journey to clinch their fifth Champions Cup title will commence at Ashton Gate, Bristol, where they will play against Pat Lam’s Bears at 5:30 pm on Sunday, December 8th. This marks the beginning of their Pool Two fixtures.
On the same day, Ulster will be travelling to Toulouse to square off against last seasons’ victors in the Pool One opener. Munster will jumpstart their campaign under floodlights, matching up against Stade Francais from France at Thomond Park the preceding evening.
With the refurbishments at the RDS under progress, Leinster will switch their homeground to the Aviva Stadium for the upcoming season. However, the venue for their two home games in the European pool, the first of which is against Clermont Auvergne on Saturday, December 14th, remains to be announced.
The second game before Christmas sees Munster crossing over to France to face Castres on Friday, December 14th whereas Ulster will welcome Bordeaux-Bègles to Belfast on the succeeding day.
In the new year, Leinster will journey to Stade Marcel Deflandre to try Joust with Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle on Sunday, January 12th and conclude their pool fixtures at home against Bath on January 18th, Saturday. Munster will launch their new year campaign on home ground against Saracens on January 11th before wrapping up with a game against Northampton in Franklin’s Gardens on the following Saturday.
Here’s a glance at the Irish Champions Cup pool fixtures (all Irish times)
Round One:
– Saturday, December 7th, Munster v Stade Français, Thomond Park, 5.30pm
– Sunday, December 8th, Toulouse v Ulster, Stade Ernest Wallon, 3:15pm; Bristol v Leinster, Ashton Gate, 5:30pm
Round Two:
– Friday, December 13th, Castres v Munster, Stade Pierre Fabre, 9am
– Saturday, December 14th, yet to be announced venues.
The matches are lined up as follows:
On an undisclosed date, Ulster will be playing against Bordeaux-Bègles at Kingspan Stadium at fifteen past three, and Leinster kicks off against Clermont Auvergne at an yet to be confirmed location at half past five.
The third round begins on the 11th of January, with Munster taking on Saracens at Thomond Park at five-thirty in the evening while Leicester faces Ulster at Welford Road at eight in the evening.
Continuing on Sunday, the 12th of January, the match between La Rochelle and Leinster will be hosted at Stade Marcel Deflandre at a quarter past three.
As we enter round four, on the 17th of January, Ulster will face Exeter at Kingspan Stadium at eight in the evening. Following on the 18th, Northampton will challenge Munster at Franklin’s Gardens at three-fifteen in the afternoon and the day will conclude with Leinster showdown against Bath at half past five at an unconfirmed location.