Get booking those flights and sorting the tickets.
It was a month in the making but the EPCR has finally announced the dates, kick-off times, venues and TV stations for the opening four rounds of this season’s Champions Cup. They announced the same for the Challenge Cup too but all four Irish provinces are swimming with the sharks.
ROUND 1
Leinster are the first province in action, welcoming Castres to Dublin on October 15. Connacht entertain Toulouse at The Sportsround later that day [5:30pm].
Ulster are away to Bordeaux-Beglés while Ronan O’Gara’s Racing 92 take on Munster at 3:15pm [Irish time] on Sunday, October 16.
ROUND 2
Munster won’t like the scheduled kick-off time [1pm] but they have Glasgow Warriors as guests to Thomond Park on Saturday, October 22. Ulster have the evening kick-off as Exeter Chiefs pitch up to Kingspan Stadium.
Leinster and Connacht hit the road but their respective ties with Montpellier and Zebre are not until the Sunday.
ROUND 3
A superb Friday night clash between Northampton Saints and Leinster Rugby, at Franklin’s Gardens, gets Round 3 underway.
Ulster have the early Saturday start against Clermont, swiftly followed by Munster vs. Leicester Tigers. Connacht are away to the dangerous Wasps on Sunday, December 11.
ROUND 4
Munster have their return trip to Leicester on Saturday, December 17 and Connacht host Wasps later that same day. A busy Irish Saturday sees Leinster vs. Saints at the Aviva Stadium [7:45pm kick-off] before Ulster visit Stade Marcel Michelin on the Sunday.
The details for Rounds 5 and 6 will be released later this year.
Massive Mayo v Tipperary preview plus a big interview with Eamon McGee in the latest GAA Hour. Subscribe here on iTunes.Â
