Munster to take on Wasps in opener

European champions Wasps will launch their Heineken Cup defence next season with a mouth-watering clash against 2006 tournament…

European champions Wasps will launch their Heineken Cup defence next season with a mouth-watering clash against 2006 tournament winners Munster.

And there is a strong possibility Wasps could move the November 10th showdown from Adams Park to Twickenham.

Wasps can now start negotiations with the Rugby Football Union after European Rugby Cup Limited announced the pool stage fixture schedule.

Speaking earlier this month, Wasps' new chief executive officer Tony Copsey indicated Twickenham would be looked at as a possible venue for the Munster clash.

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Copsey said: "We have to look at taking Munster to Twickenham. If we can do a deal with the RFU, then it is very likely to happen."

The Pool Five encounter is scheduled for a 5.30pm kick-off and dominates the opening weekend's fixtures, which also sees Guinness Premiership champions Leicester visiting Leinster and French champions Stade Francais hosting Harlequins.

Ulster are at home to Gloucester on November 9th.

Heineken Cup 2007/08 Pool Fixtures (first four rounds)

November 9th
Perpignan v Newport Gwent Dragons
Ulster v Gloucester.

November 10th
London Irish v Treviso
Ospreys v Bourgoin
Stade Francais v Harlequins
Viadana v Biarritz
Wasps v Munster
Edinburgh v Toulouse
Leinster v Leicester

November 11th
Cardiff Blues v Bristol
Saracens v Glasgow
Clermont Auvergne v Llanelli Scarlets

November 16th
Gloucester v Ospreys
Bourgoin v Ulster
Glasgow v Viadana

November 17th
Newport Gwent Dragons v London Irish
Treviso v Perpignan
Harlequins v Cardiff Blues
Biarritz v Saracens
Llanelli Scarlets v Wasps
Leicester v Edinburgh

November 18th
Bristol v Stade Francais
Munster v Clermont Auvergne
Toulouse v Leinster.

December 7th
Ospreys v Ulster
Bourgoin v Gloucester
Leinster v Edinburgh

December 8th
Treviso v Newport Gwent Dragons
Harlequins v Bristol
Saracens v Viadana
Clermont Auvergne v Wasps
Llanelli Scarlets v Munster
Leicester v Toulouse

December 9th
London Irish v Perpignan
Stade Francais v Cardiff Blues
Glasgow v Biarritz

December 14th
Ulster v Ospreys
Biarritz v Glasgow

December 15th
Newport Gwent Dragons v Treviso
Perpignan v London Irish
Gloucester v Bourgoin
Cardiff Blues v Stade Francais
Viadana v Saracens
Wasps v Clermont Auvergne
Edinburgh v Leinster

December 16th
Bristol v Harlequins
Munster v Llanelli Scarlets
Toulouse v Leicester