Leinster face an old foe

European Cup fixtures: Leinster host the team they beat in last season's quarter-final, Biarritz Olympique, on the opening weekend of this season's Heineken Cup. Leinster's preference for Friday night action at Donnybrook means the game is likely to take place on December 5th. While the weekends and fixtures have been decided the dates are still to be negotiated.

Fellow European Cup semi-finalists Munster will travel to French side Bourgoin in their first match in Pool 5, while Ulster have an away trip to Wales to play newly formed Gwent Dragons, an amalgam of Newport and Ebbw Vale, in Pool 1. The tie of the first weekend is the meeting of Leicester and Stade Francais at Stade Jean Bouin, a repeat of the 2001 European Cup final, which Leicester won.

Referred to as the "Group of Death", Pool 1 also includes Ulster and Gwent Dragons. Ulster host Stade Francais in the second round of matches and then face a home-and-away duel with Leicester. The pivotal four games for Alan Solomons's side will be sandwiched in between games against the new Welsh composite.

Munster renew their rivalry with Gloucester, facing back-to-back games within a fortnight in January. Alan Gaffney's men will travel to Kingsholm first before trying to re-enact their marvellous win of last January in Thomond Park.

Leinster start and finish their campaign under new coach Gary Ella against Biarritz and have saved English Premiership side Sale Sharks for successive matches in January. The first two rounds take place in December.

2003/2004 HEINEKEN CUP POOLS

POOL 1: Stade Francais, Leicester Tigers, Gwent Dragons, Ulster

POOL 2: Leeds Tykes, Neath/Swansea, Edinburgh Rugby, Toulouse

POOL 3: Sale Sharks, Cardiff Blues, Leinster Lions, Biarritz Olympique

POOL 4: SU Agen, The Borders, Llanelli Scarlets, Northampton Saints

POOL 5: Bourgoin, Munster, Benetton Treviso, Gloucester

POOL 6: Celtic Warriors, Calvisano, London Wasps, Perpignan

ROUND 1 - DECEMBER 5-7th, 2003

POOL 1: Stade Francais v Leicester Tigers; Gwent Dragons v Ulster

POOL 2: Leeds Tykes v Neath/Swansea; Edinburgh Rugby v Toulouse

POOL 3: Sale Sharks v Cardiff Blues; Leinster Lions v Biarritz Olympique

POOL 4: SU Agen v The Borders; Llanelli Scarlets v Northampton Saints

POOL 5: Bourgoin v Munster; Benetton Treviso v Gloucester

POOL 6: Celtic Warriors v Calvisano; London Wasps v Perpignan

ROUND 2 DECEMBER 12-14th

POOL 1: Leicester Tigers v Gwent Dragons; Ulster v Stade Francais

POOL 2: Neath/Swansea v Edinburgh Rugby; Toulouse v Leeds Tykes

POOL 3: Cardiff Blues v Leinster Lions; Biarritz Olympique v Sale Sharks

POOL 4: The Borders v Llanelli Scarlets; Northampton Saints v SU Agen

POOL 5: Munster v Benetton Treviso; Gloucester v Bourgoin

POOL 6: Calvisano v London Wasps; Perpignan v Celtic Warriors

ROUND 3 JANUARY 9-11th, 2004

POOL 1: Gwent Dragons v Stade Francais; Ulster v Leicester Tigers

POOL 2: Edinburgh Rugby v Leeds Tykes; Toulouse v Neath/Swansea

POOL 3: Leinster Lions v Sale Sharks; Biarritz Olympique v Cardiff Blues

POOL 4: Llanelli Scarlets v SU Agen; Northampton Saints v The Borders

POOL 5: Benetton Treviso v Bourgoin; Gloucester v Munster

POOL 6: London Wasps v Celtic Warriors; Perpignan v Calvisano

ROUND 4 - JANUARY 16-18th

POOL 1: Stade Francais v Gwent Dragons; Leicester Tigers v Ulster

POOL 2: Leeds Tykes v Edinburgh Rugby; Neath/Swansea v Toulouse

POOL 3: Sale Sharks v Leinster Lions; Cardiff Blues v Biarritz Olympique

POOL 4: SU Agen v Llanelli Scarlets; The Borders v Northampton Saints

POOL 5: Bourgoin v Benetton Treviso; Munster v Gloucester

POOL 6: Celtic Warriors v London Wasps; Calvisano v Perpignan

ROUND 5 - JANUARY 23rd-25th

POOL 1: Stade Francais v Ulster; Gwent Dragons v Leicester Tigers

POOL 2: Leeds Tykes v Toulouse; Edinburgh Rugby v Neath/Swansea

POOL 3: Sale Sharks v Biarritz Olympique; Leinster Lions v Cardiff Blues

POOL 4: SU Agen v Northampton Saints; Llanelli Scarlets v The Borders

POOL 5: Bourgoin v Gloucester; Benetton Treviso v Munster

POOL 6: Celtic Warriors v Perpignan; London Wasps v Calvisano

ROUND 6 - JANUARY 30th - FEBRUARY 1st

POOL 1: Ulster v Gwent Dragons; Leicester Tigers v Stade Francais

POOL 2: Toulouse v Edinburgh Rugby; Neath/Swansea v Leeds Tykes

POOL 3: Biarritz Olympique v Leinster Lions; Cardiff Blues v Sale Sharks

POOL 4: Northampton Saints v Llanelli Scarlets; The Borders v RU Agen

POOL 5: Gloucester v Benetton Treviso; Munster v Bourgoin

POOL 6: Perpignan v London Wasps; Calvisano v Celtic Warriors

QUARTER-FINALS: April 9th-11th

SEMI-FINALS: April 24th-25th

FINAL: May 22nd-23rd