ERC Confirms Heineken Cup Round Six Fixtures

ERC (European Rugby Cup Limited) have confirmed the fixture dates and kick-off times for Round Six of this season’s Heineken Cup Pool stages.

The final weekend promises to be a climatic one for the Irish provinces involved.

Munster, who currently trail Sale Sharks by five points in Pool One, welcome Philippe Saint Andre’s side to Thomond Park on Saturday, January 21 (kick-off 5.15pm). The RTE cameras will be present.

Now third in Pool Four, Ulster face a potentially tricky trip to Treviso on the same afternoon (kick-off 3.00pm). Leinster, meanwhile, are in action on Sunday, January 22 – Michael Cheika’s men, currently resident in second place in Pool Five (seven points behind Bath), visit Bath’s famous Rec ground hoping for a win and a bonus point one at that.

A minimum of seven of the Round Six matches will be televised live (the initial schedule has been confirmed). Additional live and delayed broadcasts will be announced by ERC’s broadcast partners in the New Year.

The six Pool winners automatically qualify for the Quarter-finals with the four teams with the best finishing records earning home advantage and 1 to 4. The two best placed runners-up qualify as the number 7 and 8 ranked teams and will, along with the teams ranked 5 and 6, play away from home in the last-eight.

The Quarter-finals will be played on the weekend of March 31/April 1/2, 2006.

HEINEKEN CUP: ROUND SIX: (All Kick-off times Irish time)

Friday, January 20, 2006: Pool 3 – ASM Clermont Auvergne v Leicester Tigers, Stade Marcel Michelin, 7.30pm; Stade Francais v Ospreys, Stade Jean-Bouin, 7.30pm (Sport+)

Saturday, January 21: Pool 1 – Newport Gwent Dragons v Castres Olympique, Rodney Parade, 5.15pm; MUNSTER v Sale Sharks, Thomond Park, 5.15pm (RTE); Pool 4 – Biarritz Olympique v Saracens, Parc des Sports Aquilera, 3.00pm (FR2); Benetton Treviso v ULSTER, Stadio Comunale di Monigio, 3.00pm (Sky Italia); Pool 6 – London Wasps v Edinburgh Gunners, Causeway Stadium, 1.00pm; Llanelli Scarlets v Toulouse, Stradey Park, 1.00pm (Sky Sports)

Sunday, January 22: Pool 2 – Perpignan v Calvisano, Stade Aime Giral, 1.00pm; Leeds Tykes v Cardiff Blues, Headingley Stadium, 1.00pm (Sky Sports); Pool 5 – Bath v LEINSTER, The Recreation Ground, 3.00pm (Sky Sports); Glasgow Warriors v Bourgoin, Firhill Stadium, 3.00pm