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Toulon & Wilkinson to start at home

Reigning European Cup champions Toulon, led by ERC European Player of the Year Jonny Wilkinson, will open the defence of their title next season with a home game against Glasgow Warriors at Stade Félix Mayol on Sunday, October 13.

As the 2013 winners are setting out on the road to next season's Final in Cardiff, many eyes will turn to a truly heavyweight European clash between Saracens and Toulouse in Round Two.

Saracens will take on the four-time European Cup winners Pool Three at the 90,000-capacity Wembley Stadium on Friday, October 18, in a game which is certain to generate major interest in the English capital and beyond.

Another of the early tournament highlights will feature the Round Three meeting of Racing Metro 92 and Harlequins at Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes on Saturday, December 7.

Tournament organisers, ERC, announced the fixtures, dates and kick-off times for the opening four rounds of the 2013/14 European Cup on Monday, July 22.

Current Premiership champions Leicester Tigers will begin their campaign with what promises to be a fiercely-contested Pool Five tie at Ulster's Ravenhill cauldron on Friday, October 11.

Last season's Challenge Cup champions, Leinster, will face the Ospreys in Round One on Saturday, October 12, at the Liberty Stadium.

In addition, Leinster have moved their Round Four game in Pool One against Northampton Saints to the Aviva Stadium with the repeat of the dramatic 2011 tournament Final set to go ahead on Saturday, December 14.

Cardiff Blues will stage a first European club game on an artificial pitch when they host Toulon at the Cardiff Arms Park – the venue for the 2014 Challenge Cup Final – in Round Two on Saturday, October 19.

Saracens will follow suit on their synthetic surface with a Round Four game against Zebre at Allianz Park on Saturday, December 14.

Last season's Top 14 champions, Castres Olympique, are at home against Northampton Saints in Round One on Saturday, October 12, and the following day sees a crunch French derby between Racing and the 2013 defeated tournament finalists, ASM Clermont Auvergne at Stade Yves du Manoir.

For all the European Cup fixtures, CLICK HERE, and for Challenge Cup fixtures CLICK HERE!

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