Lines drawn in Europe
The fixtures for Round Five and Six of the European Cup have been announced.
The Allianz Riviera in Nice will stage a European Cup fixture for the first time when reigning champions, Toulon, take on Cardiff Blues in a key game at the top of Pool Two on Saturday, January 11.
With places in the knockout stage of Europe's premier club rugby tournament on the line, as well as qualification for the Challenge Cup quarterfinals, the drama is set to intensify in the New Year.
On the same day as Toulon and Cardiff battle it out at the 35,624 capacity venue on the Cote d'Azur, a resurgent Harlequins will host Clermont Auvergne at the Twickenham Stoop in another high-stakes clash which will have a major bearing on who takes the honours in Pool Four.
Also on Saturday, January 11, Munster will enter the Kingsholm cauldron as likely candidates to emerge from Pool Six, however, second-placed Gloucester are bound to have other ideas following the disappointment of Round Four, while on Sunday, January 12, Toulouse and Saracens meet in a heavyweight Pool Three contest at Stade Ernest Wallon.
Pool Five leaders, Ulster, will get Round Five underway on Friday, January 10 when Montpellier are the visitors to Ravenhill, and the 1999 champions could be set for a winner-take-all confrontation with Leicester Tigers at Welford Road on Saturday, January 18 in Round Six.
Click here to view all of the fixtures for Round Five and Six.
