Champions Cup Round 2 - All You Need to Know

After a mixed weekend for the Irish provinces in the Heineken Champions Cup, Round 2 presents the opportunity for some to take a big leap towards the knockout stage, while others are just hoping to get off the mark.

Leinster planted their flag in the competition with their 42-10 hammering of Racing 92 away from home, and with an understrength Gloucester coming to the RDS on Friday, Leo Cullen's side are odds-on favourites to secure maximum points, which will leave them well placed to be a top-seed in the knockout stage.

For Munster and Ulster, a win is needed to kickstart the campaign.

Munster performed well in spite of their 18-13 defeat to Toulouse on Sunday, but another loss away to Northampton Saints would leave them in real danger of missing out on the last 16.

Ulster's need for a win is even greater. Dan McFarland's side shipped the heaviest defeat of Round 1, going down 39-0 to Sale Sharks, but they will have a huge job on their hands, hosting defending champions La Rochelle.

Connacht are also in action in the Challenge Cup, with Andy Friend's side looking to continue their steady recent form when they take on Brive in France on Friday night.

TV Leinster v Gloucester is live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, with coverage beginning at 7.30pm on Friday. All other games will be live on BT Sport, including Ulster v La Rochelle and Northampton Saints v Munster

Brive v Connacht (Friday, 8pm) will be streamed live on epcrugby.tv

RADIO

There will be live commentary of Leinster v Gloucester on Friday on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra, with reaction and preview to the rest of the weekend's games on Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.

ONLINE RTE.ie/sport will have live scoring across the weekend with match reports and reaction from the grounds.