Gloucester a tough opener for Munster

MUNSTER will face two crucial Heineken Cup games within a week in the opening phase of the competition when they play Gloucester home and away next January. They open their campaign on the weekend of December 5/7 with an away tie to Bourgoin and they follow with a home game to Treviso the following weekend, January 12/14.

However, it is on the weekends of January 9/11 and 16/18 that they face their biggest challenge, playing Gloucester away and then, on the following weekend at Thomond Park. They then travel to Treviso on the weekend of January 23/25 and close out their Pool 5 campaign with a home game against Bourgoin on the weekend of January 30/February 1.

Cup holders Toulouse, who beat Munster at the semi-final stage last season, will open their defence with an away trip to Scottish No 1 seeds Edinburgh Rugby on the first weekend of December.