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Dan Sheridan/INPHO

Leinster away to La Rochelle, Munster return to Northampton in Champions Cup pools

Ulster will open their campaign away to champions Toulouse, meanwhile.

LEINSTER WILL AGAIN travel to La Rochelle in the pool stage of next seasonโ€™s Champions Cup, while Munster face a trip back to Northampton in the groups.

Ulster will open their campaign away to familiar opponents Toulouse, with Connacht due to travel to Perpignan in the Challenge Cup.

Beaten Champions Cup finalists Leinster will return to Stade Marcel Deflandre to face Ronan Oโ€™Garaโ€™s Rochelais in Round 3, but theyโ€™ll also be on the road for their pool opener when they face Pat Lamโ€™s Bristol at Ashton Gate (Sunday 8 December).

Leinster will host Clermont the following Saturday (14 December) before renewing their rivalry with La Rochelle in the new year (Sunday 12 January), and theyโ€™ll complete their pool task with a home fixture against Johann van Graanโ€™s Bath (Saturday 18 January).

Munster will begin their campaign at home to Stade Francais on Sunday 8 December before visiting old pals Castres the following Friday night.

Graham Rowntreeโ€™s men will welcome Saracens to Thomond Park on Saturday 11 January before completing their pool away to their conquerors from the season just gone, Northampton Saints, a week later.

tommy-freeman-is-tackled-by-alex-nankivell-antoine-frisch-and-sean-obrien Northampton Saints knocked Munster out of the Champions Cup in 2024. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

Ulster will face the two Top 14 finalists in their opening two rounds: Richie Murphyโ€™s side will be away to Toulouse on Sunday 8 December and at home to Bordeaux Bรจgles the following Saturday.

The northern province will visit Michael Cheikaโ€™s Leicester Tigers on Saturday 11 January before rounding off their pool at home to Exeter Chiefs on the night of Friday 17 January.

In the Challenge Cup, Connacht will begin at home to Zebre (7 December) before heading for Perpignan (15 December). Lyon will then visit Dexcom Stadium (January 11) before Pete Wilkinsโ€™ side finish their pool in Cardiff (17 January).

Irish provincesโ€™ European pool-stage fixtures

Round 1:

Saturday 7 December: Munster v Stade Francais, 5:30pm, Thomond Park
Saturday 7 December: Connacht v Zebre, 8pm, Dexcom Stadium (Challenge Cup)
Sunday 8 December: Toulouse v Ulster, 3:15pm, Stade Ernest Wallon
Sunday 8 December: Bristol Bears v Leinster, 5:30pm, Ashton Gate

Round 2:

Friday 13 December: Castres v Munster, 8pm, Stade Pierre Fabre
Saturday 14 December: Ulster v Bordeaux Bordeaux Bรจgles, 3:15pm, Kingspan Stadium
Saturday 14 December: Leinster v Clermont, 5:30pm, venue TBC
Sunday 15 December: Perpignan v Connacht, 1pm, Stade Aimรฉ Giral (Challenge Cup)

Round 3:

Saturday 11 January: Munster v Saracens, 5:30pm, Thomond Park
Saturday 11 January: Leicester Tigers v Ulster, 8pm, Welford Road
Saturday 11 January: Connacht v Lyon, 8pm, Dexcom Stadium
Sunday 12 January: La Rochelle v Leinster, 3:15pm, Stade Marcel Deflandre

Round 4:

Friday 17 January: Ulster v Exeter Chiefs, 8pm, Kingspan Stadium
Friday 17 January: Cardiff v Connacht, 8pm, Cardiff Arms Park
Saturday 18 January: Northampton Saints v Munster, 3:15pm, Franklinโ€™s Gardens
Saturday 18 January: Leinster v Bath, 5:30pm, venue TBC

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6 Comments
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    Mute chris mcdonnell
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    Jul 12th 2024, 1:21 PM

    Will connors fan put that in his diary, I am not sure if he gets paid extra for working weekends

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    Mute David Hickey
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    Jul 12th 2024, 2:50 PM

    I hope on the Leinster show this evening Off The Ball remember to put on a condom! Haha!

    Ah no, some great fixtures and weekends there. About 12 serious games there. Munster v Saracens and Northampton, Leinster going to La Rochelle again, and Leicester Ulster have some history of mental games!

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    Mute sean o'farrell
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    Jul 12th 2024, 2:49 PM

    I think these fixtures mostly copy and paste but with different teams.

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    Mute Conor
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    Jul 12th 2024, 12:56 PM

    Off the ball salivating Iโ€™m sure.

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jul 12th 2024, 2:30 PM

    @Conor: The spin-churn turns

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    Mute Brendan Griffin
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    Jul 12th 2024, 5:25 PM

    conflicting data there on Munster dates, text says first match on Sunday & next on Friday night, but list at end shows Saturday-Friday which is more likely correct since thereโ€™s travel and all in there, and no reason to be scheduling Sunday-Friday at this or any stage of comp

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