Heineken Cup Opening Round Fixtures Announced

Toulouse will open their Heineken Cup title defence with a home “Clash of the Champions” against former double winners London Wasps in the final Round 1 match on Sunday, 10 October.

2006 and 2008 Champions, Munster will travel to London Irish on Saturday October 9th in pool 3. This years final will once again return to the Millenium Stadium in Cardif, where Munster won those two crowns under now Ireland Head Coach, Declan Kidney.

The opening exchanges of the 16^thseason of European club rugby’s elite tournament will be between another former champion club – 2000 winners Northampton Saints – and Castres Olympique.

Toulouse won a record fourth Heineken Cup crown in the all-French final at Stade de France in May with 2006 and 2010 finalists Biarritz Olympique who start their challenge on the road at 1998 winners Bath Rugby.

The opening weekend sees English Premiership champions Leicester Tigers travelling to Italian champions Benetton Treviso while French champions ASM Clermont Auvergne are home to Saracens with the Ospreys travelling to tournament newcomers Toulon.

Fellow Heineken Cup debutants Racing-Metro 92 and Aironi Rugby both face away Irish tests, at 2009 champions Leinster and Ulster Rugby respectively, with reigning Amlin Challenge Cup champions Cardiff Blues home to Edinburgh.

Heineken Cup Opening Weekend

FRIDAY 8 OCTOBER, 2010

Pool 1 Northampton Saints v Castres Olympique             20.00  Sky Sports

Pool 4 Ulster Rugby v Aironi Rugby                                 19.30

Pool 6 Glasgow Warriors v Newport Gwent Dragons       19.30

SATURDAY 9 OCTOBER, 2010

Pool 1 Cardiff Blues v Edinburgh                                         17.45  S4C*

Pool 2 Leinster v Racing-Metro 92                                       13.30  Sky Sports

Pool 2 ASM Clermont Auvergne v Saracens                        16.30  FR2

Pool 3 Toulon v Ospreys                                                     14.30  Canal+

Pool 3 London Irish v Munster                                             17.45  Sky Sports

Pool 5 Benetton Treviso v Leicester Tigers                        14.30  Sky Italia

Pool 5 Scarlets v Perpignan                                               15.30  Sky Sports

SUNDAY 10 OCTOBER, 2010

Pool 4 Bath Rugby v Biarritz Olympique                          13.00  Sky Sports

Pool 6 Toulouse v London Wasps                                                16.00  FR2

Daniel "Pitchside" Pitcher Twitter: @DanFM104Sport About: Dan "Pitchside" Pitcher provides insight and commentary as the chief soccer and rugby correspondent for Sportspeak.