La Rochelle, double title holders, will find their rival and unfortunate finalist in the last two editions, Leinster, from the first day of the group stage of the Champions Cup 2023-2024, according to the calendar unveiled Thursday by the organizing body. .
This clash of hen 4 will be played at the Marcel-Deflandre stadium on Sunday December 10, and will be followed, for the maritime club, by a trip to South Africa to challenge the Stormers in Cape Town, before receiving the Leicester Tigers, announced the EPCR in a press release.
The Maritimes group stage will end with a trip to England at the Sale Sharks on January 21, 2024.
The next edition of the intercontinental competition, open since last year to South African franchises, marks the return to a “multi-group” format, in which teams from the same championship do not meet directly.
Stade Toulousain, winners of the Top 14, will begin their Champions Cup campaign in pool 2 at the Stade Ernest-Wallon on Saturday 9 December against Cardiff Rugby.
The five-time winners of the tournament will then go to Harlequins, then to Belfast to meet Ulster, before finishing with a match at home against Bath.
Unhappy finalist in the last two seasons, Leinster will play for its part at home during the 2nd and 3rd days, respectively against Sale Sharks and Stade Français, in a very tough Pool 4.
The Irish province, four times crowned in the tournament, will end its group stage on the ground of Leicester Tigers on Saturday January 20.
The top four from each pool of six will qualify for the round of 16.
The first day of competition will take place on the weekend of December 8-10. The round of 16 will be played on the weekend of April 5-7 and the quarter-finals on April 12-14.
The semi-finals will be played on the weekend of May 3-5 and finally, the final will be played on Saturday May 25 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
