Munster to host Stade Francais and Saracens as Champions Cup pool fixtures released

Leinster, three-time runners-up since 2022, and Ulster both face opening away fixtures at Bristol Bears and Toulouse respectively, while Connacht’s Challenge Cup campaign kicks off at home to Zebre Parma on the opening weekend of December 6-8.

Fri, 12 Jul, 2024 - 10:22

Simon Lewis

Munster are set to welcome Stade Francais and Saracens back to Thomond Park next season with visits to Castres and a return to Northampton Saints also on the cards following the release of the Champions Cup pool fixtures for 2024-25 on Friday.

Munster got a tough draw in Pool 3 when the four pools were picked out in Cardiff 10 days ago but supporters will be relishing the opportunity to see old foes return to Limerick this December and January.

Munster will open their pool campaign at home to Stade Francais on Saturday, December 7 with a 5:30pm kick-off and the game set to be televised live on RTÉ.

Graham Rowntree’s men then have a six-day turnaround for Round 2 and a Friday the 13th appointment at Castres’s Stade Pierre Fabre.

The second half of Munster’s Pool 3 schedule will see Saracens visit Thomond Park on Saturday, January 11, again at 5:30pm, before the Reds return to Franklin’s Gardens in the English East Midlands for the third successive season to play newly-crowned Premiership champions Northampton a week later, kicking off at 3:15pm.

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Leinster’s trip to Bristol comes on Sunday, December 8 with a 5:30pm kick-off, following Ulster’s challenging opener at reigning champions Toulouse, which has a 3pm start on the same day.

It does not any easier for Richie Murphy’s men with a six-day turnaround to Bordeaux-Begles’ visit to Belfast on Saturday, December 14.

Ulster will visit Leicester Tigers in Round 3 with that pool tie fixed for Saturday January 11 at 8pm before a round-four return to Kingspan Stadium to face Exeter Chiefs and another six-day turnaround on Friday, January 17.

Connacht welcome Zebre Parma to Galway on Saturday, December 7 at 8pm, then travel to Perpignan eight days later.

Their round three fixture is a home game with Lyon the visitors on Saturday January 11 before wrapping up the pool stages at Cardiff six days later on Friday, January 17.

The dates and venues for Leinster’s home games have yet to be confirmed with Leo Cullen’s team having vacated the RDS for next season. The majority of their home games will be at Aviva Stadium with Croke Park also available after an 82,000 sell-out at GAA headquarters for their semi-final win over Northampton Saints in May.

Investec Champions Cup – Pool fixtures (all kick-offs Irish time)

Round 1

Saturday, December 7: Munster v Stade Francais, Thomond Park, 5:30pm

Sunday, December 8: Toulouse v Ulster, Stade Ernest Wallon, 3:15pm

Sunday, December 8: Bristol Bears v Leinster, Ashton Gate, 5:30pm

Round 2

Friday, December 13: Castres Olympique v Munster, Stade Pierre Fabre, 8pm

Saturday, December 14: Ulster v Bordeaux-Begles, Kingspan Stadium, 3:15pm

Date TBC: December 14/15/16: Leinster v ASM Clermont Auvergne, Venue TBC, 5:30pm

Round 3

Saturday, January 11: Munster v Saracens, Thomond Park, 5:30pm

Saturday, January 11: Leicester Tigers v Ulster, Welford Road, 8pm