Champions Cup: Irish opponents' form guide

The newly branded Investec Champions Cup kicks off this weekend with all four Irish provinces in action.

There's a new format to contend with the 24 sides split across four pools, where they can't face teams from their own league and don't play the traditional home and away games.

When all the group fixtures are played we'll go into a round of 16 and then onto the quarters, semis and final, which takes place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 25 May.

Here's how the opening round looks like for the Irish sides.

Connacht v Union Bordeaux-Bègles, The Sportsground, Friday 8pm

After a fast start in the BKT URC, Connacht have somewhat plateaued over the last two weeks. A heavy defeat away to the Bulls and heartbreaking loss to Leinster in Galway has served to halt the momentum that came with four wins from their opening five matches.

Pete Wilkins’ men sit in eighth in the table.

Bordeaux are in seventh place in the Top14, just outside the play-offs on points difference.

They have won five games and lost four. Their last outing was away to Oyonnax and they got their only away win of the season thanks to a fortuitous late try by France wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey.

Former France and Toulouse hooker Yannick Bru is the director of rugby at the club, while ex-Ireland U20 boss Noel MacNamara is the backs coach.

Les Bleus internationals Damian Penaud, Maxime Lucu, Matthieu Jalibert and Yoram Moefana are also among the stars Bordeaux can call upon for Friday’s clash.

Round 2-4 fixtures
Saracens (away) 16 December
Lyon (away) 13 January
Bristol Bears (home) 19 January

Munster v Aviron Bayonnais, Thomond Park, Saturday 5.30pm (live on RTÉ2, RTÉ Player and RTÉ Radio 1)

URC champions Munster are fourth in the table after four wins, a draw and two defeats