new fixture list

drewbedo

anyone know when the new fixture lists for 2011-2012 season are coming out for the rabodirect league???? (old magners league) need some rugby. getting withdrawl symptoms..cant find anything online myself...

thomond2006

The new Pro12 site still isn't ready, Celtic Rugby hasn't changed a bit!

theKramer

Apparently the fixture list has been sent to all 12 teams. See here.

A draft of the fixtures has been sent to the 12 clubs and while they are subject to change, Munster and Leinster are set to again face each other at Thomond Park the week before the Heineken Cup quarter-finals next April.

durkadurka

HEC tomorrow at 12

Munster Magic

durkadurka wrote: »

HEC tomorrow at 12

can you tell me where you heard this? need to be ready to book flights

durkadurka

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The French tournament debutants have scheduled the match to Stade de la Mosson, the 32,900-capacity home of League 1 football club Montpellier HSC.
Leinster will also play a fourth tournament match at the Aviva Stadium when they meet Bath Rugby in Round 4 on Saturday, 17 December. The champions have won all three previous games staged at the home of Irish rugby beating ASM Clermont Auvergne in a Pool match and Leicester Tigers and Toulouse in the knock-out stages last season on the way to their second Heineken Cup crown in three seasons.

ERC, the tournament organisers, today (Wednesday, 20 July) announced the fixtures, dates, kick-off times and host broadcasters for the opening four rounds of the 2011/2012 tournament.

English champions Saracens - who will welcome South Africa's 2007 World Cup winning captain John Smit to the club in the autumn - will take their Round 3 clash with the Ospreys on Saturday, 10 December to London's Wembley Stadium.

Connacht Rugby, who join Montpellier in making their Heineken Cup debut this season, will meet Amlin Challenge Cup holders Harlequins in Pool 6 on Friday, 11 November - the opening night of the 17th season of elite European club rugby action - before welcoming four-time champions Toulouse to Galway in Round 2 on Saturday, 19 November.

Harlequins face a tough away trip in Round 4 when they take on Toulouse at Le Stadium on Sunday, 18 December.

Northampton Saints, the 2011 finalists, will also be on the road in Round 1 as they travel to Thomond Park to meet the 2006 and 2008 Heineken Cup winners, Munster in Pool 1.

Aironi Rugby, the Italian franchise set for their second season in the competition, will have home advantage when they host former double champions Leicester Tigers at Stadio Luigi Zaffanella on the opening Saturday.

POOLS

POOL 1: Munster, Northampton Saints, Scarlets, Castres Olympique
POOL 2: Cardiff Blues, London Irish, Edinburgh, Racing Metro 92
POOL 3: Leinster, Bath Rugby, Glasgow Warriors, Montpellier
POOL 4: Leicester Tigers, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Ulster Rugby, Aironi Rugby
POOL 5: Biarritz Olympique, Ospreys, Saracens, Benetton Treviso
POOL 6: Toulouse, Harlequins, Gloucester Rugby, Connacht Rugby

FIXTURES
(All kick-offs LOCAL time with host broadcaster where relevant)

ROUND 1

FRIDAY, 11 NOVEMBER, 2011
Pool 2 Racing Metro 92 v Cardiff Blues 21.00 Canal+
Pool 6 Harlequins v Connacht Rugby 20.00 Sky Sports

SATURDAY, 12 NOVEMBER, 2011
Pool 1 Scarlets v Castres Olympique 15.00
Pool 1 Munster v Northampton Saints 18.00 Sky Sports
Pool 2 London Irish v Edinburgh 13.30 Sky Sports
Pool 3 Montpellier v Leinster (Stade de la Mosson) 14.30 Canal+
Pool 4 Aironi Rugby v Leicester Tigers 14.30 Sky Italia
Pool 4 Ulster Rugby v ASM Clermont Auvergne 15.40 Sky Sports
Pool 5 Ospreys v Biarritz Olympique 15.40 S4C

SUNDAY, 13 NOVEMBER, 2011
Pool 3 Glasgow Warriors v Bath Rugby 12.45 Sky Sports
Pool 5 Saracens v Benetton Treviso 15.00
Pool 6 Toulouse v Gloucester Rugby 16.00 FR2

ROUND 2

FRIDAY, 18 NOVEMBER, 2011
Pool 1 Northampton Saints v Scarlets 20.00 Sky Sports
Pool 2 Cardiff Blues v London Irish 20.00 S4C
Pool 2 Edinburgh v Racing Metro 92 20.00
Pool 4 ASM Clermont Auvergne v Aironi Rugby 21.00 Canal+

SATURDAY, 19 NOVEMBER, 2011
Pool 1 Castres Olympique v Munster 16.40 FR2
Pool 4 Leicester Tigers v Ulster Rugby 18.00 Sky Sports
Pool 5 Biarritz Olympique v Saracens 14.30 Canal+
Pool 5 Benetton Treviso v Ospreys 14.30 Sky Italia
Pool 6 Gloucester Rugby v Harlequins 15.40 Sky Sports
Pool 6 Connacht Rugby v Toulouse 18.00 Sky Sports

SUNDAY, 20 NOVEMBER, 2011
Pool 3 Leinster v Glasgow Warriors 12.45 Sky Sports
Pool 3 Bath Rugby v Montpellier 15.00 Sky Sports

ROUND 3

FRIDAY, 9 DECEMBER, 2011
Pool 2 Cardiff Blues v Edinburgh 20.00 S4C
Pool 4 Ulster Rugby v Aironi Rugby 19.30
Pool 6 Harlequins v Toulouse 20.00 Sky Sports

SATURDAY, 10 DECEMBER, 2011
Pool 1 Scarlets v Munster 15.40 Sky Sports
Pool 1 Castres Olympique v Northampton Saints 14.30 Canal+
Pool 2 Racing Metro 92 v London Irish 16.40 FR2
Pool 5 Benetton Treviso v Biarritz Olympique 14.30 Sky Italia
Pool 5 Saracens v Ospreys (Wembley Stadium) 18.00 Sky Sports
Pool 6 Connacht Rugby v Gloucester Rugby 13.30 Sky Sports

SUNDAY, 11 DECEMBER, 2011
Pool 3 Glasgow Warriors v Montpellier 12.45 Sky Sports
Pool 3 Bath Rugby v Leinster 12.45 Sky Sports
Pool 4 ASM Clermont Auvergne v Leicester Tigers 16.00 FR2

ROUND 4

FRIDAY, 16 DECEMBER, 2011
Pool 2 Edinburgh v Cardiff Blues 20.00 S4C
Pool 5 Ospreys v Saracens 20.00 Sky Sports
Pool 5 Biarritz Olympique v Benetton Treviso 21.00 Canal+

SATURDAY, 17 DECEMBER, 2011
Pool 2 London Irish v Racing Metro 92 15.00
Pool 3 Montpellier v Glasgow Warriors 16.40 FR2
Pool 3 Leinster v Bath Rugby (Aviva Stadium) 18.00 Sky Sports
Pool 4 Leicester Tigers v ASM Clermont Auvergne 13.30 Sky Sports
Pool 4 Aironi Rugby v Ulster Rugby 14.30 Sky Italia
Pool 6 Gloucester Rugby v Connacht Rugby 15.40 Sky Sports

SUNDAY, 18 DECEMBER, 2011
Pool 1 Munster v Scarlets 12.45 Sky Sports
Pool 1 Northampton Saints v Castres Olympique 15.00 Sky Sports
Pool 6 Toulouse v Harlequins (Le Stadium) 16.00 FR2

ROUND 5

13 / 14 / 15 JANUARY, 2012
Pool 1 Munster v Castres Olympique
Pool 1 Scarlets v Northampton Saints
Pool 2 London Irish v Cardiff Blues
Pool 2 Racing Metro 92 v Edinburgh
Pool 3 Montpellier v Bath Rugby
Pool 3 Glasgow Warriors v Leinster
Pool 4 Aironi Rugby v ASM Clermont Auvergne
Pool 4 Ulster Rugby v Leicester Tigers
Pool 5 Ospreys v Benetton Treviso
Pool 5 Saracens v Biarritz Olympique
Pool 6 Toulouse v Connacht Rugby
Pool 6 Harlequins v Gloucester Rugby

ROUND 6

20 / 21 / 22 JANUARY, 2012
Pool 1 Castres Olympique v Scarlets
Pool 1 Northampton Saints v Munster
Pool 2 Cardiff Blues v Racing Metro 92
Pool 2 Edinburgh v London Irish
Pool 3 Bath Rugby v Glasgow Warriors
Pool 3 Leinster v Montpellier
Pool 4 ASM Clermont Auvergne v Ulster Rugby
Pool 4 Leicester Tigers v Aironi Rugby
Pool 5 Benetton Treviso v Saracens
Pool 5 Biarritz Olympique v Ospreys
Pool 6 Connacht Rugby v Harlequins
Pool 6 Gloucester Rugby v Toulouse


QUARTER-FINALS - 6 / 7 / 8 APRIL, 2012
SEMI-FINALS - 27 / 28 / 29 APRIL, 2012
17th HEINEKEN CUP FINAL - TWICKENHAM STADIUM - 19 / 20 MAY, 2012

the_doctor199

Anyone know when the WC players will be back? Ulster have Leicester away on Nov 19, they'd have a great chance if it was before the WC players were back.

Irish Rugby Fixtures

Irish Rugby Fixtures wrote:

ROUND 1

FRIDAY, 11 NOVEMBER, 2011
Pool 6 Harlequins v Connacht Rugby 20.00 Sky Sports

SATURDAY, 12 NOVEMBER, 2011
Pool 1 Munster v Northampton Saints 18.00 Sky Sports
Pool 3 Montpellier v Leinster (Stade de la Mosson) 14.30 Canal+
Pool 4 Ulster Rugby v ASM Clermont Auvergne 15.40 Sky Sports

ROUND 2

SATURDAY, 19 NOVEMBER, 2011
Pool 1 Castres Olympique v Munster 16.40 FR2
Pool 4 Leicester Tigers v Ulster Rugby 18.00 Sky Sports
Pool 6 Connacht Rugby v Toulouse 18.00 Sky Sports

SUNDAY, 20 NOVEMBER, 2011
Pool 3 Leinster v Glasgow Warriors 12.45 Sky Sports

ROUND 3

FRIDAY, 9 DECEMBER, 2011
Pool 4 Ulster Rugby v Aironi Rugby 19.30

SATURDAY, 10 DECEMBER, 2011
Pool 1 Scarlets v Munster 15.40 Sky Sports

Pool 6 Connacht Rugby v Gloucester Rugby 13.30 Sky Sports

SUNDAY, 11 DECEMBER, 2011
Pool 3 Bath Rugby v Leinster 12.45 Sky Sports

ROUND 4

SATURDAY, 17 DECEMBER, 2011
Pool 3 Leinster v Bath Rugby (Aviva Stadium) 18.00 Sky Sports
Pool 4 Aironi Rugby v Ulster Rugby 14.30 Sky Italia
Pool 6 Gloucester Rugby v Connacht Rugby 15.40 Sky Sports

SUNDAY, 18 DECEMBER, 2011
Pool 1 Munster v Scarlets 12.45 Sky Sports

ROUND 5

13 / 14 / 15 JANUARY, 2012
Pool 1 Munster v Castres Olympique
Pool 3 Glasgow Warriors v Leinster
Pool 4 Ulster Rugby v Leicester Tigers
Pool 6 Toulouse v Connacht Rugby


ROUND 6

20 / 21 / 22 JANUARY, 2012
Pool 1 Northampton Saints v Munster
Pool 3 Leinster v Montpellier
Pool 4 ASM Clermont Auvergne v Ulster Rugby
Pool 6 Connacht Rugby v Harlequins

Leinster get the only thing that they wanted to avoid, which is an away game in France in the first few rounds.

Connacht gonna scalp Toulouse and Harlequins at home imo, the way the games pan out is perfect for them!

justsomebloke

the_doctor199 wrote: »

Anyone know when the WC players will be back?

I'd say it will depend on when they get knocked out. That and I would say the English players will be back playing sooner after their exit then the Irish players will

durkadurka

I suspect Leinster will struggle first time out against Montpelier , so it's vital we do the double on bath in December.

Gracelessly Tom

An awful fixture list for Leinster. Montpellier away in the first round, exactly what was to be avoided. Two early Sunday KO's ain't great from the fans point of view, Bath away would have been ideal for the travelling fans on a Saturday.

smurphy29

Agreed, Leinster's draw looked a peach a few weeks ago, but it's a far stickier wicket now. Montpellier is a very dangerous fixture now.

Munster haven't been helped hugely either; they'd have prefered Northampton at home in Week Six, and they have Castres away in week 2, which could be tricky.

totallegend

the_doctor199 wrote: »

Anyone know when the WC players will be back? Ulster have Leicester away on Nov 19, they'd have a great chance if it was before the WC players were back.

The round of Celtic League fixtures the week before the HC will most likely be the first action most of them see. Maybe the guys who don't see much action in NZ will be back earlier, but the bulk of the squad will have one game to get back in the groove...

GerM

totallegend wrote: »

The round of Celtic League fixtures the week before the HC will most likely be the first action most of them see. Maybe the guys who don't see much action in NZ will be back earlier, but the bulk of the squad will have one game to get back in the groove...

Probably for a few of the big guns will be held back but I reckon several of them will have had some exposure before that game. If Ireland perform to expectations and lose out at the QF stage then we can expect the players home around October 11th, a month ahead of the HEC game. The centrally contracted players may have an enforced 3 weeks rest and only come back for the Munster game but I would be surprised if the non-centrally contracted players like O'Brien, Cullen and D'Arcy aren't given some sort of run in the last game in October which would be 3 weeks since the quarter final.

After the 2007 WC the majority of players wanted to get back playing and were involved in the game 2 weeks before the HEC match. Shaggy and Mal came back even a week earlier than that only 12 days after the last WC game.

CatFromHue

the world cup final is the 23 oct, thats three weeks before the hec start. they'll be back at least for the game the week before the hec.

jolley123

So who are people's favorites. I think it's a three-way between the Saints, Tigers and Leinster. Can't see anyone else lifting the trophy. If I had to choose one, I'd say Tigers.

totallegend

jolley123 wrote: »

So who are people's favorites. I think it's a three-way between the Saints, Tigers and Leinster. Can't see anyone else lifting the trophy. If I had to choose one, I'd say Tigers.

Northampton and Leicester will struggle to get out of their groups I reckon; have Munster and Clermont respectively but Leicester might benefit from having Aironi and there could be two teams getting through from their pool.

Toulouse have one of the handier pools and Clermont have put together a massive squad for next season, I'd go for them ahead of any of the English teams.

jolley123

totallegend wrote: »

Northampton and Leicester will struggle to get out of their groups I reckon; have Munster and Clermont respectively but Leicester might benefit from having Aironi and there could be two teams getting through from their pool.

Toulouse have one of the handier pools and Clermont have put together a massive squad for next season, I'd go for them ahead of any of the English teams.

I expect Saints to get out of their group. No disrespect to Munster, but Northampton will only be stronger after strengthening their squad. They've added a lot of depth through Tom May, Martin Roberts, George Pisi, Ryan Lamb, Artemiev etc. It was a facet of their game that they could've done with last season. And losing the way they did to Leinster, will only make them stronger in my view.

I can't see Leicester struggling to get out of their pool at all to be honest. Clermont will go through quite a lot of shuffling, what with the signings they've made, and I can't see them being able to produce enough consistency to go all the way.

I expect Toulouse to get out of their group, but I see them in a similar situation as Clermont.

CiaranMT

CatFromHue wrote: »

the world cup final is the 23 oct, thats three weeks before the hec start. they'll be back at least for the game the week before the hec.

Considering Ireland will not reach the last four (being realistic), the Irish will have another two weeks on top of that.