The draw and fixtures for the 2023/24 Champions Cup has been made, providing mixed fortunes for the four Irish sides.
Munster, having won the URC, are feeling the positive effects of being a Tier 1 seed, after being drawn in a favourable pool alongside Bayonne, Glasgow Warriors, Exeter Chiefs, Toulon, and Northampton.
Ulster have it tougher, with Toulouse and Racing 92 both in Pool 2, as well as Cardiff, Harlequins, and Bath.
Saracens complete Connacht's pool, where a losing bonus point would be as a huge result against the Gallagher Premiership Champions.
Champions Cup Draw Sees Leinster In 'Pool Of Death'
In this year's pool of death, Leinster will meet La Rochelle for a fourth time in a row, as they look for their first win over the reigning Champion Cup champions.
Stade Francais, Leicester Tigers, the Stormers, and Sale Sharks make up the rest of Pool 4.
The 2023/23 Champions Cup Fixtures - Irish Teams
Round 1 of the 2023/24 Champions Cup
| Date & Time | Team | Venue | Where to Watch |
| Friday, 8/12 at 8pm | Connacht Rugby v Union Bordeaux-Bègles | The Sportsground | TNT Sports, beIN Sports, SuperSport, FloRugby |
| Saturday, 9/12 at 3.15pm | Bath Rugby v Ulster Rugby | The Recreation Ground | TNT Sports, beIN Sports, SuperSport, FloRugby |
| Saturday, 9/12 at 5.30pm | Munster Rugby v Aviron Bayonne | Thomond Park | RTÉ, TNT Sports, beIN Sports, SuperSport, FloRugby |
| Sunday 10/12 at 4.15pm | Stade Rochelais v Leinster Rugby | Stade Marcel Deflandre | France TV, beIN Sports, TNT Sports, SuperSport, FloRugby |
Round 2 of the 2023/24 Champions Cup
| Date & Time | Team | Venue | Where to Watch |
| Saturday, 16/12 at 1pm | Saracens v Connacht Rugby | StoneX Stadium | TNT Sports, beIN Sports, SuperSport, FloRugby |
| Saturday, 16/12 at 5.30pm | Leinster Rugby v Sale Sharks | TBD | RTE , TNT Sports, beIN Sports, SuperSport, FloRugby |
| Saturday, 16/12 at 8pm | Ulster Rugby v Racing 92 | Kingspan Stadium | TNT Sports, beIN Sports, SuperSport, FloRugby |
| Sunday 17/12 at 1pm | Exeter Chiefs v Munster Rugby | Sandy Park | ITV, TNT Sports, beIN Sports, SuperSport, FloRugby |
Round 3 of the 2023/24 Champions Cup
| Date & Time | Team | Venue | Where to Watch |
| Saturday, 13/1 at 2pm | Lyon v Connacht Rugby | Matmut Stadium de Gerland | beIN Sports, TNT Sports, SuperSport, FloRugby |
| Saturday, 13/1 at 4.15pm | RC Toulon v Munster Rugby |
Stade Felix-Mayol
|
beIN Sports, France TV, TNT Sports, SuperSport, FloRugby |
| Saturday, 13/1 at 5.30pm | Leinster Rugby v Stade Français Paris | TBD | RTE, TNT Sports, beIN Sports, SuperSport, FloRugby |
| Saturday 13/1 at 8pm | Ulster Rugby v Stade Toulousain | Kingspan Stadium | TNT Sports, beIN Sports, SuperSport, FloRugby |
Round 4 of the 2023/24 Champions Cup
| Date & Time | Team | Venue | Where to Watch |
| Friday, 19/1 at 8pm | Connacht Rugby v Bristol Bears | The Sportsground | TNT Sports, beIN Sports, SuperSport, FloRugby |
| Saturday, 20/1 at 1pm | Harlequins v Ulster Rugby |
Twickenham Stoop
|
TNT Sports, beIN Sports, SuperSport, FloRugby |
| Saturday, 13/1 at 3.15pm | Leicester Tigers v Leinster Rugby | Mattioli Woods Welford Road | TNT Sports, beIN Sports, SuperSport, FloRugby |
| Saturday 13/1 at 8pm | Munster Rugby v Northampton Saints |
Thomond Park
|
RTÉ, TNT Sports, beIN Sports, SuperSport, FloRugby |
2023/24 Champions Cup Knockout Stage
Quarter-finals – 12/13/14 April 2024
Semi-finals – 3/4/5 May 2024
EPCR Challenge Cup final – Friday 24 May 2024, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Champions Cup final – Saturday 25 May 2024, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
The 2023/24 Champions Cup and Challenge Cup draw
2023/24 Champions Cup Pools
| Pool 1 | Pool 2 | Pool 3 | Pool 4 |
| Saracens | Stade Toulousain | Munster Rugby | Stade Rochelais |
| Union Bordeaux-Bègles | Cardiff Rugby | Aviron Bayonne | Stade Français Paris |
| Vodacom Bulls | Bath Rugby | Glasgow Warriors | Leicester Tigers |
| Bristol Bears | Racing 92 | Exeter Chiefs | DHL Stormers |
| Connacht Rugby | Harlequins | RC Toulon | Leinster Rugby |
| Lyon | Ulster Rugby | Northampton Saints | Sale Sharks |
2023/24 EPCR Challenge Cup
| Pool 1 | Pool 2 | Pool 3 |
| Invitee 1 | Ospreys | Edinburgh Rugby |
| Section Paloise | USAP | Castres Olympique |
| Dragons RFC | Newcastle Falcons | ASM Clermont Auvergne |
| Zebre Parma | Emirates Lions | Invitee 2 |
| Oyonnax Rugby | Montpellier Hérault Rugby | Gloucester Rugby |
| Cell C Sharks | Benetton Rugby | Scarlets |
Champions Cup New Format
READ HERE: Fans Dismayed As New And Confusing Champions Cup Format Announced
The new format will see six teams per pool, with clubs playing four matches against teams not in the same domestic league.
This will benefit Connacht in Pool 1 of thr Champions Cup as it means that they will avoid having to face a strong Bulls outfit - and they will fancy their chances against Bordeaux, Bristol Bears, and Lyon.
The new Champions Cup format also sees teams play just one game against their group opponents, rather than the usual home and away fixtures.
The fixture schedules have yet to be decided by EPCR, who have given a vague explanation of what this process will involve and when the fixtures will be announced:
"The fixture schedules for both tournaments with dates, venues, kick-off times and TV coverage will be announced as soon as possible. Fixtures will be determined using an algorithm which will take into consideration the outcome of today’s draws, league calendar restrictions, individual club calendar restrictions and broadcast requirements."
With 24 teams in the competition and a round of 16, four teams will qualify from each pool, meaning Leinster's 'pool of death' is rather straightforward for them despite the quality involved, while Connacht will also have an excellent chance at reaching a Champions Cup knockout stage for a second time.
