Schedule confirmed for Irish trio in Champions Cup

The ECPR have confirmed the order of fixtures for next season's Heineken Champions Cup, with the three Irish provinces involved now knowing who they will start their respective campaigns against.

The opening round of the competition will take place on the weekend of 9/10/11 of December.

Last season's beaten finalists Leinster will start their journey to a potential home decider with a trip to face Racing, although the province warns that a venue is still not certain owing to the unavailability of La Defense Arena, west of Paris, because of gigs at the stadium that weekend.

Munster, who were quarter-finalists in the spring, will welcome the side who beat them in that epic last eight clash - French giants Toulouse - to Thomand Park.

While Ulster, who made it to the round of 16 last time around and were also beaten by Toulouse, will be travelling across the Irish Sea to take on Sale.

The 2022/23 Champions Cup will differ from last season's, with two pools of 12 teams, and the eight highest ranked across each making it to the last-16. Unlike last year, that round will be a straight knockout rather than a two-legged fixture.

Heineken Champions Cup Fixtures 2022/23:

Round 1 – 9/10/11 December 2022 Munster v Toulouse, Thomond Park Racing v Leinster, venue to be confirmed Sale Sharks v Ulster, AJ Bell Stadium

Round 2 – 16/17/18 December 2022 Leinster v Gloucester, RDS Arena Northampton Saints v Munster, Franklin Gardens Ulster v La Rochelle, Kingspan Stadium

Round 3 – 13/14/15 January 2023 Gloucester v Leinster, Kingsholm Stadium La Rochelle v Ulster Rugby, Stade Marcel Deflandre Munster v Northampton Saints, Thomond Park

Round 4 – 20/21/22 January 2023 Leinster v Racing, Aviva Stadium Toulouse v Munster, Stade Ernest Wallon Ulster v Sale