Rugby:Connacht will open their Amlin Challenge Cup campaign on October 9th away to Pool One rivals and tournament debutants Cavalieri Prato of Tuscany, before facing Top 14 side Aviron Bayonnais of France at home six days later.
A potentially pool-defining double-header against two-time champions Harlequins follows in December when Eric Elwood’s side travel to The Stoop on the 12th and then host the English side on the 17th.
The exact dates for the remaining fixtures, a trip to the Cote Basque and the visit of Cavalieri Prato, have yet to be confirmed but the fifth game will be between the 13th and 16th of January and the final pool match is scheduled for the following week.
Connacht, beaten in the semi-finals of last year’s tournament by eventual winners Toulan, could book a place in the Heineken European Cup with if they improve on that and win this year’s tournament.
Connacht’s Amlin Challenge Cup fixtures
October 9th– Cavalieri Prato (a)
October 14th– Bayonne (h)
December 12th– Harlequins (a)
December 17th– Harlequins (h)
January 13th-16th- Bayonne (a)
January 20th-23rd– Cavalieri Prato (h)