Ulster open defence with French trip

Leinster's three home games in the European Cup beginning on November 19th will take place on Friday evenings at Donnybrook. Facing English side Leicester, Glasgow Caledonians and Parisian club Stade Francais, Leinster open with a home game before travelling to Scotland and Paris.

Munster must face beaten European Cup finalists, Colomiers, as well as the mighty Saracens and Pontypridd from Wales in two Saturday games and a Sunday match and kick off the day after Leinster against Pontypridd.

European champions Ulster have also continued to schedule their matches for the popular Friday evening slot and will entertain Bourgoin and English side Wasps in November, Llanelli in December and Wasps and Bourgoin in January.

RTE are scheduled to screen two matches, Leinster's opener against Leicester and Munster's home game against Colomiers in December. BBC Northern Ireland are also listed as covering Ulster's home game against Wasps later this month as well as Llanelli's visit in December.

DATES AND VENUES

EUROPEAN CUP

LEINSTER

Fri Nov 19th v Leicester, Donnybrook, 7.30.

Fri Nov 26th v Glasgow Caledonians, Glasgow, 7.30.

Sun Dec 12th v Stade Francais, Paris, 3.0.

Fri Dec 17th v Stade Francais, Donnybrook, 5.30.

Fri Jan 7th v Glasgow Caledonians, Donnybrook, 6.30.

Sat Jan 15th v Leicester, Welford Road, 3.0.

MUNSTER

Sat Nov 20th v Pontypridd, Home, 2.30.

Sun Nov 28th v Saracens, Vicarage Road, 3.0.

Sat Dec 11th v Colomiers, France, 5.0.

Sat Dec 18th v Colomiers, Home, 2.30.

Sun Jan 9th v Saracens, Home, TBA.

Sun Jan 16th v Pontypridd, Sardis Road, TBA.

ULSTER

Sat Nov 20th v Bourgoin, Stade Pierre Rajon, 7.30.

Fri Nov 26th v London Wasps, Ravenhill, 7.30.

Fri Dec 10th v Llanelli, Ravenhill, 7.30.

Sat Dec 18th v Llanelli, Stradey Park, 3.0.

Sun Jan 9th v London Wasps, Loftus Road, TBA.

Fri Jan 14th v Bourgoin, Ravenhill Road, 7.30.

EUROPEAN SHIELD

CONNACHT

Fri Nov 19th v Ebbw Vale, Eugene Cross Park, 7.30.

Sat Nov 27th v Steaua Bucharesti, Army Club, 2.30.

Sat Dec 11th v Toulon, Sportsground, 2.30.

Sun Dec 18th v Toulon, Stade Mayol, 6.0.

Sat Jan 8th v Steau Bucharesti, Sportsground, 2.30.

Sat Jan 15th v Ebbw Vale, Sportsground, 2.30.

Ulster's David Humphreys with the European Cup.