Leinster to open defence against Exiles

Having finally installed the Heineken Cup in the Donnybrook trophy cabinet, Leinster’s first task in keeping it there will be…

Having finally installed the Heineken Cup in the Donnybrook trophy cabinet, Leinster’s first task in keeping it there will be to see off the challenge of London Irish. The Exiles are first up at the RDS following the publication of the fixtures, dates and times this morning.

Michael Cheika’s side hit the road in rounds two and three with their Lions contingent due to face a Brive side containing fellow tourist Rikki Flutey before successive meetings with the Llanelli Scarlets.

For Munster to reach yet another knockout stage, much will hinge on the critical back-to-back meetings with Perpignan, who continue to be linked with Freddie Michalak as a replacement for Dan Carter, in December.

Tony McGahan’s side will renew hostilities with the 2003 runners-up at Thomond Park and travel to the French heartland the following Sunday.

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Before that the two-time champions face a tricky assignment against Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens on the opening weekend. That game will be followed a meeting with Benetton Treviso, where accumulating the all-important bonus point will be the major task.

As has so often been the case in recent seasons, Ulster face a daunting task to emerge from their pool and, unless they hit the ground running, their campaign could be over before Christmas.

A home tie against Bath is first up for the new management team at Ravenhill, followed by a trip to Edinburgh before a thankless double-header against French giants Stade Francais.

Heineken Cup fixtures (Rounds 1-4)

ROUND 1

Friday, October 9th, 2009

Pool 2 Gloucester v Newport Gwent Dragons 20.00 S4C* / Sky Sports (i)
Pool 4 Ulster Rugby v Bath Rugby 19.30
Pool 6 Leinster v London Irish 20.00 Sky Sports

Saturday, October 10th, 2009

Pool 1 Benetton Treviso v Perpignan 14.30 Sky Italia
Pool 1 Northampton Saints v Munster 18.00 Sky Sports
Pool 2 Glasgow Warriors v Biarritz Olympique 15.45 Sky Sports / France 2
Pool 3 ASM Clermont Auvergne v Viadana 16.00
Pool 4 Stade Francais Paris v Edinburgh 14.35 Canal+ / Sky Sports (i)
Pool 5 Cardiff Blues v Harlequins 13.35 Sky Sports / S4C*
Pool 6 Scarlets v Brive 15.00

Sunday, October 11th, 2009

Pool 3 Leicester Tigers v Ospreys 12.45 Sky Sports / S4C*
Pool 5 Toulouse v Sale Sharks 16.00 France 2 / Sky Sports

ROUND 2

Friday, October 16th, 2009

Pool 1 Perpignan v Northampton Saints 21.00 Canal+ / Sky Sports (i)
Pool 2 Newport Gwent Dragons v Glasgow Warriors 19.30
Pool 5 Sale Sharks v Cardiff Blues 20.00 Sky Sports / S4C*

Saturday, October 17th, 2009

Pool 1 Munster v Benetton Treviso 13.35 Sky Sports
Pool 2 Biarritz Olympique v Gloucester Rugby 14.35 Canal+ / Sky Sports (i)
Pool 3 Viadana v Leicester Tigers 14.30 Sky Italia / Sky Sports (i)
Pool 4 Edinburgh v Ulster Rugby 15.45 Sky Sports (i)
Pool 5 Harlequins v Toulouse 18.00 Sky Sports
Pool 6 London Irish v Scarlets 15.00
Pool 6 Brive v Leinster 16.45 France 2 / Sky Sports

Sunday, October 18th, 2009

Pool 3 Ospreys v ASM Clermont Auvergne 12.45 S4C* / Sky Sports
Pool 4 Bath Rugby v Stade Français Paris 15.00 Sky Sports / France 2

ROUND 3

Friday, December 11th, 2009

Pool 1 Munster v Perpignan 20.00 Sky Sports
Pool 2 Glasgow Warriors v Gloucester Rugby 19.30

Saturday, 12 December, 2009

Pool 1 Northampton Saints v Benetton Treviso 15.00
Pool 3 Viadana v Ospreys 14.30 Sky Italia/S4C*/Sky Sports (i)
Pool 4 Ulster Rugby v Stade Français Paris 13.35 Sky Sports
Pool 5 Cardiff Blues v Toulouse 15.45 S4C* / Sky Sports / France 2
Pool 6 Scarlets v Leinster 18.00 Sky Sports / S4C*
Pool 6 Brive v London Irish 19.00 Canal+ / Sky Sports (i)

Sunday, December 13th, 2009

Pool 2 Biarritz Olympique v Newport Gwent Dragons 13.45 Canal+ / Sky Sports (i)
Pool 3 ASM Clermont Auvergne v Leicester Tigers 16.00 France 2 / Sky Sports
Pool 4 Bath Rugby v Edinburgh 15.00 Sky Sports (i)
Pool 5 Harlequins v Sale Sharks 12.45 Sky Sports

ROUND 4

Friday, December 18th, 2009

Pool 2 Newport Gwent Dragons v Biarritz Olympique 20.00 Sky Sports / S4C*

Saturday, December 19th, 2009

Pool 1 Benetton Treviso v Northampton Saints 14.30 Sky Italia / Sky Sports (i)
Pool 3 Ospreys v Viadana 14.30
Pool 3 Leicester Tigers v ASM Clermont Auvergne 18.00 Sky Sports
Pool 4 Stade Français Paris v Ulster Rugby 16.45 France 2 / Sky Sports (i)
Pool 4 Edinburgh v Bath Rugby 13.35 Sky Sports
Pool 5 Toulouse v Cardiff Blues 14.35 Canal+ / Sky Sports (i)
Pool 6 Leinster v Scarlets 15.45 Sky Sports
Pool 6 London Irish v Brive 15.00

Sunday, December 20th, 2009

Pool 1 Perpignan v Munster 16.00 France 2 / Sky Sports
Pool 2 Gloucester Rugby v Glasgow Warriors 12.45 Sky Sports
Pool 5 Sale Sharks v Harlequins 15.00