European Cup/Weekend Fixtures: Munster and Leinster will play their respective final European Cup pool matches on Saturday, January 31st. Alan Gaffney's side will host Bourgoin at Thomond Park at 5 p.m. while Leinster travel to France to play Biarritz at the Stade Aimé Giral (3.0, Irish time).
Ulster's final match, against Gwent Dragons, will take place at Ravenhill on Friday, January 30th, (7.45 p.m. kick-off). The two matches in each of the six pools must kick off at the same time so as to avoid any claims of a team or teams enjoying an unfair advantage in knowing exactly what they had to do to qualify for the knock-out stages. The television coverage for the final round of matches will depend on the results over the next fortnight.
The days and times for fifth-round games were also confirmed by European Rugby Cup Ltd (ERC). Leinster host Cardiff on the Friday night (January 23rd) at Lansdowne Road, a game that will be shown live on Sky Sports and RTÉ.
The following day, Ulster's crucial clash with Stade Francais at Stade Jean Bouin in Paris will be shown live by Sky Sports but those who want to see footage of Munster's trip to Benetton Treviso on the Saturday will have to wait until Sunday week and Sky Sports' highlights package.
Meanwhile, Ulster are expected to name an unchanged side from that which thrashed Leicester 33-0 at Ravenhill for Saturday's return clash at Welford Road. Shane Stewart, a try scorer on Sunday, retired injured during the match but is expected to be available. If he fails to make it Adam Larkin, who replaced him, will be called into the starting line-up with Ryan Constable promoted to the bench.
Leicester's first-choice centre partnership of Darryl Gibson and Ollie Smith, both of whom were forced off in Sunday's game, are concerns. Gibson could miss the return with a hamstring injury, while Smith spent Sunday night in hospital after being knocked out in a tackle.
Munster, who host Gloucester at Thomond Park, will not finalise their team until tomorrow, the same day Leinster are expected to confirm their side for Sunday's trip to the Sale Sharks. Brian O'Driscoll is out but Gordon D'Arcy and Christian Warner are expected to be fit.
Connacht will confirm their team today for the Parker Pen Challenge Cup second-leg clash with Pau in France on Saturday. Mark McHugh, Damien Browne and Paul Neville, all of whom missed the first leg through injury, are available as is hooker Bernard Jackman, who picked up an injury in the first leg.
EUROPEAN CUP ROUND 5
Friday, January 23rd: Celtic Warriors v Perpignan, Brewery Field (7.15); Edinburgh Rugby v Ospreys, Meadowbank (7.30); Llanelli Scarlets v The Borders, Stradey Park (7.30); Leinster Lions v Cardiff Blues, Lansdowne Road (7.45) ; Agen v Northampton Saints, Stade Armandie (7.0, Irish time).
Saturday, January 24th: Benetton Treviso v Munster, Stadio Comunale di Monigo (1.30, Irish time); Stade Francais v Ulster, Stade Jean Bouin (3.0, Irish time); Gwent Dragons v Leicester, Rodney Parade (5.0); Bourgoin v Gloucester, Stade Pierre Rajon (6.30 Irish time).
Sunday January 26th: Leeds Tykes v Toulouse, Headingley (1.0); Sale Sharks v Biarritz Olympique, Edgeley Road (3.0); Wasps v Calvisano, Causeway Stadium (3.0).
EUROPEAN CUP ROUND 6
Friday January 30th: Leicester v Stade Francais, Welford Road (7.45); Ulster v Gwent Dragons, Ravenhill (7.45).
Saturday January 31st: N-S Ospreys v Leeds Tykes, St Helen's (3.0); Cardiff Blues v Sale Sharks, Arms Park (3.0); Toulouse v Edinburgh Rugby, Stade Ernest Wallon (3.0, Irish time), Biarritz v Leinster, Parc des Sports Aguilera (3.0, Irish time); Munster v Bourgoin, Thomond Park (5.0); Gloucester v Benetton Treviso, Kingsholm (5.0).
Sunday February 1st: Perpignan v Wasps, Stade Aimé Giral (1.0, Irish time); Calvisano v Celtic Warriors, Centro Sportivo San Michele (1.0, Irish time). Northampton v Llanelli, Franklin's Gardens (3.0); The Borders v Agen, Netherdale (3.0).
SATURDAY
European Cup: Leicester v Ulster, Welford Road (3.0); Munster v Gloucester, Thomond Park (5.0).
Challenge Cup (second round second leg): Pau v Connacht, Stade du Hameau (6.0, Irish time).
AIL Division One (2.30): Belfast Harlequins v Garryowen, Deramore Park; Buccaneers v Clontarf, Moher Road; Cork Constitution v St Mary's, Temple Hill; Dungannon v Dolphin, Stevenson Park; Shannon v Carlow, Thomond Park; UCD v Galwegians, Belfield.
AIL Division Two (2.30): Ballynahinch v Young Munster, Ballymacarn Park; Malone v UL Bohemian, Gibson Park; Old Belvedere v Old Crescent, Anglesea Road; Sunday's Well v DLSP, Musgrave Park; Waterpark v Barnhall, Ballinakill.
AIL Division Three (2.30): City of Derry v Naas, Judges Road; Clonakilty v Ballina, Shannonvale; Instonians v Corinthians, Shaws Bridge; Old Wesley v Greystones, Donnybrook; Portadown v Banbridge, Chambers Park; Queen's University Belfast v Highfield, Upper Malone; Skerries v Ards, Holmpatrick; Wanderers v Connemara, Lansdowne Road (back pitch).
SUNDAY
European Cup: Sale Sharks v Leinster, Edgeley Road (3.0).
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