MUNSTER WILL MEET 2017 English champions Exeter Chiefs in the opening round of the Champions Cup as the long-awaited fixture list was released today.
Two months on from the pool draw, champions Leinster now know they will host Wasps on opening night, Friday 12 October at the RDS, with Munster in Exeter and Ulster hosting Leicester the following day.
A week later, round two will see Munster’s old friends Gloucester travel to Limerick for a lunchtime kick-off on Saturday 20 October. Fans will be well clear of Thomond Park in time to watch Ulster take on Simon Zebo and Racing 92 on the evening of 20 October.
The following day will see Europe’s most decorated sides face off with the clash of four-time champions Toulouse and Leinster in France’s prime time TV slot on Sunday afternoon, 21 October.
The December back-to-backs will see Ulster take on Scarlets, with a trip to Llanelli on 7 December before a Friday night return to Ravenhill a week later.
Leinster will also have a seven-day turnaround between Saturday meetings with Bath. Munster, however, will have six days to prepare between Castres matches with a Sunday afternoon battle Thomond Park clash on 9 December before the return game in Stade Pierre Fabre on Saturday 15 December.
Connacht, meanwhile, will begin their latest Challenge Cup tilt at home to Bordeaux Begles on Saturday 13 October, with a trip to Sale in store a week later. Perpignan will visit Galway for the first of the back-to-back clashes on 8 December before Connacht go to Catalunya for the return game on Friday 14 December.
Champions Cup, Irish provincial fixtures (Irish time)
Round one
Round two
Round three
Round four
Round five
Friday 11 January – Gloucester v Munster, 19.45
Saturday 12 January – Leinster v Toulouse, 13.00
Saturday 12 January – Ulster v Racing 92, 15.15
Round Six
Saturday 19th January – Leicester v Ulster,15.15
Saturday 19th January – Munster v Exeter Chiefs, 17.30
Sunday 20th January – Wasps v Leinster, 15.15
Connacht Challenge Cup pool fixtures
Round one
Saturday 13 October — Connacht v Bordeaux Begles, 15.00
Round two
Saturday 20 October — Sale Sharks v Connacht, 15.00
Round three
Saturday 8 December — Connacht v Perpignan, 15.00
Round four
Friday 14 December — Perpignan v Connacht, 20.00
Round five
Saturday 12 January — Connacht v Sale Sharks, 15.00
Round six
Friday 18 January — Bordeaux Begles v Connacht, TBC
View full Challenge and Champions Cup fixtures here
– First published 12.21. 17 August
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