Leinster host Bristol in first cup match

HEINEKEN Cup new boys Bristol and London Irish will be in the limelight in Europe's top club tournament straight away when they figure in televised games over the opening weekend of the tournament.

Bristol's debut, against Celtic League champions Leinster at Dublin's Donnybrook ground, will be broadcast live on RTÉ on Friday October 11.

The following day the English Cup holders London Irish will take on inaugural Cup champions Toulouse at Les Sept Deniers the game will be shown live across France on FR2.

The main game in England will be the duel between English champions Gloucester and last season's Heineken Cup runners-up Munster.

That game kicks off at Kingsholm at 3.00pm on Saturday October 12. Other televised matches will be announced prior to the October 11 kick off

Meanwhile former Scotland and Lions coach Jim Telfer is returning to a coaching role with the national side to prepare for the World Cup.

Scottish Rugby Union director of rugby Telfer will join former All Black captain Todd Blackadder as an additional coach under Ian McGeechan.

Telfer will be working on contact areas of the game as McGeechan uses the year to prepare for competition against the world's best in Australia next year.

Telfer said: ''Following discussions with national coach Ian McGeechan and Bill Watson, the SRU's chief executive, it was felt my coaching experience could be utilised, especially gearing up to the World Cup.

''I still have something to offer and I'm looking forward to assisting Ian and the rest of the coaches to get the best out of our players.''

Blackadder, still playing for Edinburgh Gunners, will have a watching brief and is to help players on a one-to-one basis.

The TV schedule for the first two rounds of the Heineken Cup in Britain and France and the full pool stage for Ireland is as follows:

BBC NETWORK: Saturday 12 October 2002, Gloucester v Munster 1500 hrs (TBC); Saturday 19 October 2002 Bristol v Montferrand 1500 hrs (TBC).

FRANCE TELEVISION: Saturday 12 October 2002, Toulouse v London Irish 1500 hrs; Saturday 19 October 2002 Biarritz v Northampton 1500 hrs.

RTÉ: Friday 11 October 2002, Leinster v Bristol 1935 hrs; Saturday 19 October 2002, Munster v Perpignan 1500 hrs; Saturday 7 December 2002, Munster v Viadana 1500 hrs; Friday 13 December 2002, Leinster v Montferrand 1935 hrs; Friday 10 January 2002, Leinster v Swansea 1935 hrs; Saturday 18 January 2002, Munster v Gloucester 1600 hrs.

All kick off times are local times.