Owing to the much-anticipated Rugby World Cup this season’s European fixtures begin slightly later this year, but include no less intrigue with some fascinating pools announced.

This year we have five Guinness PRO14 teams in the Challenge Cup and seven in the Champions Cup, with Round 1 to be played 15/16/17 November.

CHAMPIONS CUP – LEINSTER, BENETTON RUGBY, GLASGOW WARRIORS, ULSTER, MUNSTER, OSPREYS AND CONNACHT

Leinster – The ²⁰¹⁷⁄₁₈ Champions Cup winners have been placed into an intriguing-looking Pool 1 alongside Lyon, Northampton Saints and fellow Guinness PRO14 side Benetton.

It’s all Guinness PRO14 when Leinster and Benetton open their campaigns against each other at RDS Arena on Saturday 16 November.

There’s going to be some tricky ties in this pool for Leo Cullen’s Leinster – we’re particularly looking forward to trips away to Lyon (Saturday 7 December) and the Chris Boyd-inspired Saints on Saturday 14 December.

Benetton – Continuing with Pool 1, Benetton will look to resume their ascent in European rugby and make a real impact in the competition this season.

As ever, home form is always key and the Stadio Monigo will be bouncing for fixtures against Northampton (Sat 23 November), Lyon (Sat 14 December) and Leinster (Sat 18 January).

Glasgow Warriors – On to Pool 2 where Glasgow Warriors take on Exeter Chiefs, La Rochelle and Sale Sharks, with Dave Rennie’s men starting at home to Sale on Saturday 16 November.

Glasgow and Exeter will be the bookies’ favourite for this pool so we make the fixture at Scotstoun on January 11 key – these two sides also met here in January in 2018 when the Warriors ripped up the track to prevail 28-21.

Ulster – Pool 3 sees Ulster take on Clermont, Harlequins and Bath, with Dan McFarland’s men starting away at Bath on Saturday 16 November.

Two home fixtures follow but get the weekend of ¹¹⁄₁₂ January down in your diaries now – the away trip to Stade Marcel-Michelin is one of the best in rugby and will see Ulster attempt to take down Challenge Cup champions Clermont.

Munster and Ospreys – Another double Guinness PRO14 grouping in Pool 4 and a definite contender for pool of death as Munster and Ospreys are joined by champions Saracens and French giants Racing 92.

The English side will take some stopping but travel to fortress Thomond Park on Saturday December 7, while Munster versus Ospreys match-ups book-end their fixtures this season in Round 1 (Saturday November 16, Liberty Stadium) and Round 6 (Sunday January 19, Thomond Park).

Connacht – Finally we have Pool 5, where Connacht fight it out with French champions Toulouse, Gloucester and Montpellier.

Connacht begin by hosting Montpellier on Sunday 17 November and will enjoy the chance to take down European royalty on Sunday 11 January, when great entertainers Toulouse come calling to the Sportsground.

CHALLENGE CUP – DRAGONS, SCARLETS, EDINBURGH, ZEBRE, BLUES

Pool 1: Castres, Worcester Warriors, Dragons, Enisei-STM

Pool 2: Scarlets, Toulon, London Irish, Bayonne

Pool 3: Wasps, Edinburgh, Bordeaux, Agen

Pool 4: Stade Francais, Bristol Bears, Zebre, Brive

Pool 5: Cardiff Blues, Leicester Tigers, Pau, Calvisano