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
