PRO12 CHAMPIONS CONNACHT will open their return to the Champions Cup with a mouthwatering home clash with Toulouse at the Sportsground on Saturday 15 October (17.30).
Earlier on the same day, Leinster will also be at home with Castres the visitors to the RDS (15.15), while Ulster and Munster will both be in France for Sunday afternoon games against Bordeaux and Racing Metro respectively.
The Sunday start in Paris will be Munster’s only non-Saturday fixture in the first four Pool 1 fixtures – times for rounds five and six will be confirmed at a later date, but will take place on the weekends of 13 and 20 January.
As always, the back-to-back December fixtures will be intriguing ones with Leinster going away to Northampton on Friday 9 December before the return clash eight days later.
Ulster welcome Clermont Auvergne to Kingspan Stadium on 10 December and have eight days to recover before their trip to Stade Michelin. Munster can avenge last season’s defeats to Leicester, while Connacht have just six days between their Sunday lunchtime battle away to Wasps and the return leg at what will surely be an intense atmosphere at the Sportsground on Saturday 17 December (17.30).
Dates, kick-off times and broadcasters for Irish provinces’ Champions Cup fixtures (round 1 to 4).
15 October
Leinster v Castres (BT Sport) 15.15
Connacht v Toulouse (Sky Sports) 17.30
16 October
Bordeaux v Ulster (Sky Sports) 13.00
Racing Metro v Munster (Sky Sports) 15.15
22 October
Munster v Glasgow Warriors ( Sky Sports) 13.00
Ulster v Exeter Chiefs (BT Sports) 19.45
23 October
Montpellier v Leinster (Sky Sports) 13.00
Zebre v Connacht (BT Sport) 15.15
9 December
Northampton v Leinster (BT Sports) 19.45
10 December
Ulster v Clermont (Sky Sports) 13.00
Munster v Leicester (BT Sport) 15.15
11 December
Wasps v Connacht (Sky Sports) 13.00
17 December
Leicester v Munster (BT Sport) 15.15
Connacht v Wasps (Sky Sports) 17.30
Leinster v Northampton (BT Sport) 19.45
18 December
Clermont v Ulster (Sky Sports) 15.15
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