Munster's visit a sell-out at the Sportsground

THE CONNACHT Branch have confirmed next Sunday's visit of Munster to the Sportsground is a sell-out as they begin preparations for a return to European Challenge Cup action away to London Irish on January 17th.

Leinster travel to Belfast on Saturday for what is also expected to be a packed Ravenhill, while the mini-interprovincial series continues on January 2nd with Michael Cheika's men playing hosts to Connacht and keen to avenge the surprise 19-18 defeat in October. Ulster travel to Thomond Park on January 3rd.

Meanwhile, the ERC have confirmed Welsh referee Nigel Owens will be in charge of the Munster-Sale Heineken Cup match on January 16th, with Frenchman Christophe Berdos taking control of the Twickenham showdown between Wasps and Leinster.

HEINEKEN EUROPEAN CUP ROUND FIVE

Friday, January 16th: Pool One: Munster v Sale Sharks, 8.0, N Owens (Wal) Sky Sports; Clermont v Montauban, 10.0, C Damasco (Ita). Pool Two: Edinburgh v Castres, 7.30, J Jones (Wal).

Saturday, January 17th: Pool Two: Wasps v Leinster, 5.35, C Berdos (Fra) Sky Sports. Pool Three: Perpignan v Ospreys, 5.35, Alain Rolland (Ire) Sky Sports; Leicester v Benetton Treviso, 3.0, P Gauzere (Fra). Pool Four: Ulster v Harlequins, 1.35, R Poite (Fra) Sky Sports. Pool Five: Toulouse v Glasgow, 3.35, W Barnes (Eng). Pool Six: Calvisano v Biarritz, 2.35, A Small (Eng).

Sunday, January 18th: Pool Four: Scarlets v Stade Français, 3.0, D Pearson (Eng) S4C. Pool Five: Dragons v Bath, 1.0, George Clancy (Ire) Sky Sports. Pool Six: Gloucester v Cardiff, 3.0, Alan Lewis (Ire) Sky Sports.

ROUND SIX

Friday, January 23rd: Pool Six: Cardiff v Calvisano, 8.0, R Poite (Fra) Sky Sports. Biarritz v Gloucester , 10.0, N Owens (Wal) Sky Sports.

Saturday, January 24th: Pool One: Sale v Clermont , 3.35, P Allan (Sco); Montauban v Munster, 5.35, D Pearson (Eng) Sky Sports. Pool Three: Ospreys v Leicester, 5.35, C Berdos (Fra) Sky Sports; Benetton Treviso v Perpignan, 7.35, A McPherson (Sco). Pool Four: Stade Français v Ulster, 3.35, W Barnes (Eng) Sky Sports; Harlequins v Scarlets, 1.35, George Clancy (Ire) Sky Sports.

Sunday, January 25th: Pool Two: Leinster v Edinburgh, 1.0, C White (Eng) Sky Sports; Castres v Wasps, 2.0, Alan Lewis (Ire). Pool Five: Bath v Toulouse, 3.0, Alain Rolland (Ire) Sky Sports; Glasgow v Dragons, 3.0, J Garces (Fra).