Munster will have to travel to the Aviva Stadium for their mouthwatering ‘home’ Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final showdown with Toulouse due to Thomond Park not being available on the weekend of May 6.
d Sheeran is booked to play a series of concerts at Thomond Park, and as a result, Munster will face Toulouse in Dublin, despite having earned home advantage against the defending champions.
The schedule clash, along with the fact that the GAA championship will be in full flow, means Munster must play outside the province for the biggest game of their season.
Leinster have been handed a tough away draw against Premiership leaders Leicester. Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle will take on French rivals Montpellier at home, while Racing 92, where Mike Prendergast is attack coach, will host Sale in Paris.
Exact dates, kick-off times and TV coverage have still to be announced.
Leo Cullen is set for an emotional return to Welford Road, where he spent two successful years as a player, and the Leinster head coach warned of the scale of the task facing his side against a rejuvenated Leicester outfit.
“They’ve got a strong lineout maul obviously with the identity of their coach, Steve Borthwick, who has been strongly tipped to succeed Eddie (Jones),” Cullen said.
“That’s probably a reflection of the job he has done there in a reasonably short period of time. He definitely seems to be the coach of the moment, lots of people even calling for him to join before the World Cup, so we’ll see how that plays out for him.
“I’ve such fond memories of my time there and a lot of respect for the people who are there. A grounded bunch, I think it’s fair to say.
“I know they’ve had a sticky patch over the last number of years but in terms of what they have delivered this year, they have a fair bit of power.”
Champions Cup quarter-finals
(to be played May 6/7/8)
Racing 92 v Sale Sharks, Paris La Defense Arena
La Rochelle v Montpellier, Stade Marcel Deflandre
Munster v Toulouse, Aviva Stadium
Leicester v Leinster, Welford Road
