Munster get that Friday feeling again

Rugby - European Cup: It is a case of primetime versus drive time for Leinster and Munster after the ERC announced the dates and times of the final two rounds of Heineken Cup pool games.

Leinster have received the expected Saturday evening slot for their vital Pool 2 clash away to Wasps at Twickenham on Saturday January 17th, with the game scheduled to kick-off at 5.35pm.

But Munster's hopes of avoiding another Friday slot were dashed when it was announced that their Pool 1 tie with Sale Sharks will go ahead at 8.0pm on January 16th at Thomond Park.

Munster officials had asked the ERC for a Saturday or Sunday berth after their opening home fixture against Montauban led to traffic chaos in Limerick on Friday October 10th.

Ulster will play their Pool 4 clash against Harlequins at Ravenhill on Saturday 17th with a 1.35pm start.

Munster will finish their pool campaign away to Montauban on Saturday January 24th, with a 4.0pm kick-off (3.0pm Irish time), while Leinster's clash against Edinburgh at the RDS takes place on Sunday 25th at 1.0pm.

Ulster finish their pool campaign away to Stade Francais on Saturday 24th, the game set for 2.35pm in Paris (1.35pm Irish time).

Sky Sports will cover the final two pool games of both Leinster and Munster live, while they will also show Ulster's clash with Harlequins.

Heineken Cup

Round Five

Friday, January 16th, 2009
Pool 1: Munsterv Sale Sharks, Thomond Park (8.0) Sky Sports/Canal + Sport
Pool 1: ASM Clermont Auvergne v Montauban, (8.0) Stade Marcel Michelin
Canal+ Sport.
Pool 2: Edinburgh v Castres Olympique, Edinburgh (7.30).

Saturday, January 17th, 2009
Pool 2: London Wasps v Leinster, Twickenham (5.35) Sky Sports/Canal+ Sport.
Pool 3: Perpignan v Ospreys, Stade Aime Giral (3.35), Sky Sports, France 2..
Pool 3: Leicester Tigers v Benetton Treviso, Welford Road (3.0).
Pool 4: Ulsterv Harlequins, Ravenhill (1.35), Sky Sports.
Pool 5: Toulouse v Glasgow Warriors, Stade Ernest Wallon (1.35) Canal+
Pool 6: Calvisano v Biarritz Olympique, Centro Sportivo San Michele
(1.35) Sky Italia.

Sunday, January 18th, 2009
Pool 4: Scarlets v Stade Français Paris, Parc y Scarlets (3.0) S4C*/France 2.
Pool 5: Newport Gwent Dragons v Bath, (1.00) Sky Sports.
Pool 6: Gloucester v Cardiff Blues, Kingsholm (3.0) Sky Sports.

Round Six

Friday, January 23rd, 2009
Pool 6: Cardiff Blues v Rugby Calvisano, Arms Park (8.0) S4C*/Sky Sports
Pool 6: Biarritz Olympique v Gloucester, Parc des Sports Aguilera
(8.0) Canal+ Sport/Sky Sports

Saturday, January 24th
Pool 1: Sale Sharks v ASM Clermont Auvergne (3.35).
Pool 1: Montauban v Munster, Stade Sapiac (3.35) Canal +/Sky Sports.
Pool 3: Ospreys v Leicester Tigers, Liberty stadium (5.35) Sky Sports.
Pool 3: Benetton Treviso v Perpignan, Stadio Comunale di Monigo (5.35)
Sky Italia/Canal+ Sport.
Pool 4: Stade Français Paris v Ulster, Stade Jean Bouin (1.35) France
2/Sky Sports.
Pool 4: Harlequins v Scarlets, The Stoop (1.35) Sky Sports.

Sunday, January 25th.
Pool 2: Leinsterv Edinburgh, RDS (1.0) Sky Sports.
Pool 2: Castres Olympique v London Wasps, Stade Pierre Antoine (1.0).
Pool 5: Bath v Toulouse, Recreation Ground (3.0) Sky Sports/France 2.
Pool 5: Glasgow Warriors v Newport Gwent Dragons, Firhill (3.0).
* Delayed highlights

QUARTER-FINALS- 10 / 11 / 12 APRIL, 2009
SEMI-FINALS- 1 / 2 / 3 MAY, 2009
14th HEINEKEN CUP FINAL- MURRAYFIELD, EDINBURGH
SATURDAY 23 MAY, 2009 - 17.00