Giants clash to start HC off with a bang
Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:22
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.
The opening exchanges of the 16th season of European club rugby’s elite tournament will be between another former champion club - 2000 winners Northampton Saints up against French club Castres Olympique.
The fixtures, dates, kick-off times and host broadcasters were announced on Tuesday, July 20 by tournament organisers ERC.
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.
The opening weekend sees English Premiership champions Leicester Tigers travelling to Italian champions Benetton Treviso while French champions Clermont Auvergne are home to Saracens with the Ospreys travelling to tournament newcomers Toulon.
Fellow Heineken Cup debutants Racing-Metro 92 and Aironi both face away Irish tests, at 2009 champions Leinster and Ulster Rugby respectively, with reigning Amlin Challenge Cup champions Cardiff Blues home to Magners League rivals Edinburgh.
Heineken Cup 2010/2011 fixtures:
Round 1:
Friday, October 8
Pool 1 Northampton Saints v Castres Olympique
Pool 4 Ulster v Aironi
Pool 6 Glasgow Warriors v Newport Gwent Dragons
Saturday, October 9
Pool 1 Cardiff Blues v Edinburgh
Pool 2 Leinster v Racing-Metro 92
Pool 2 Clermont Auvergne v Saracens
Pool 3 Toulon v Ospreys
Pool 3 London Irish v Munster
Pool 5 Benetton Treviso v Leicester Tigers
Pool 5 Scarlets v Perpignan
Sunday, October 10
Pool 4 Bath v Biarritz Olympique
Pool 6 Toulouse v London Wasps
Round 2:
Friday, October 15
Pool 1 Castres Olympique v Cardiff Blues
Pool 3 Ospreys v London Irish
Saturday, October 16
Pool 1 Edinburgh v Northampton Saints
Pool 2 Racing-Metro 92 v Clermont Auvergne
Pool 2 Saracens v Leinster
Pool 3 Munster v Toulon
Pool 4 Aironi v Bath
Pool 6 Newport Gwent Dragons v Toulouse
Sunday, October 17
Pool 4 Biarritz Olympique v Ulster Rugby
Pool 5 Leicester Tigers v Scarlets
Pool 5 Perpignan v Benetton Treviso
Pool 6 London Wasps v Glasgow Warriors
Round 3:
Friday, December 10
Pool 6 Glasgow Warriors v Toulouse
Saturday, December 11
Pool 1 Northampton Saints v Cardiff Blues
Pool 1 Castres Olympique v Edinburgh
Pool 2 Saracens v Racing-Metro 92
Pool 4 Ulster v Bath
Pool 4 Aironi v Biarritz Olympique
Pool 5 Perpignan v Leicester Tigers
Pool 5 Scarlets v Benetton Treviso
Sunday, December 12
Pool 2 Clermont Auvergne v Leinster
Pool 3 London Irish v Toulon
Pool 3 Munster v Ospreys
Pool 6 Newport Gwent Dragons v London Wasps
Round 4:
Friday, December 17
Pool 2 Racing-Metro 92 v Saracens
Pool 4 Biarritz Olympique v Aironi
Saturday, December 18
Pool 2 Leinster v ASM Clermont Auvergne
Pool 3 Toulon v London Irish
Pool 3 Ospreys v Munster
Pool 4 Bath Rugby v Ulster
Pool 5 Benetton Treviso v Scarlets
Pool 6 Toulouse v Glasgow Warriors
Sunday, December 19
Pool 1 Cardiff Blues v Northampton Saints
Pool 1 Edinburgh v Castres Olympique
Pool 5 Leicester Tigers v Perpignan
Pool 6 London Wasps v Newport Gwent Dragons
Round 5:
January
14/15/16
Pool 1 Cardiff Blues v Castres Olympique
Pool 1 Northampton Saints v Edinburgh
Pool 2 Leinster v Saracens
Pool 2 Clermont Auvergne v Racing-Metro 92
Pool 3 Toulon v Munster
Pool 3 London Irish v Ospreys
Pool 4 Bath v Aironi
Pool 4 Ulster v Biarritz Olympique
Pool 5 Benetton Treviso v Perpignan
Pool 5 Scarlets v Leicester Tigers
Pool 6 Toulouse v Newport Gwent Dragons
Pool 6 Glasgow Warriors v London Wasps
Round 6:
January 21/22/23
Pool 1 Castres Olympique v Northampton Saints
Pool 1 Edinburgh v Cardiff Blues
Pool 2 Saracens v Clermont Auvergne
Pool 2 Racing-Metro 92 v Leinster
Pool 3 Munster v London Irish
Pool 3 Ospreys v Toulon
Pool 4 Aironi v Ulster
Pool 4 Biarritz Olympique v Bath
Pool 5 Perpignan v Scarlets
Pool
5 Leicester Tigers v Benetton Treviso
Pool 6 Newport Gwent Dragons v Glasgow Warriors
Pool 6 London Wasps v Toulouse


