ERC Announce Rounds 5 and 6 Dates

HEINEKEN CUP 2010 / 2011 (All kick-offs LOCAL time)

ROUND 5

FRIDAY 14 JANUARY, 2011:Pool 1 Cardiff Blues v Castres Olympique 19.30
Pool 1 Northampton Saints v Edinburgh 20.00 Sky Sports
Pool 2 ASM Clermont Auvergne v Racing Metro 92 21.00 Canal+

SATURDAY 15 JANUARY, 2011:Pool 2 Leinster v Saracens 13.30 Sky Sports
Pool 4 Bath Rugby v Aironi Rugby 14.30
Pool 4 Ulster Rugby v Biarritz Olympique 15.30 Sky Sports
Pool 5 Benetton Treviso v Perpignan 14.30 Sky Italia
Pool 5 Scarlets v Leicester Tigers 17.45 Sky Sports
Pool 6 Toulouse v Newport Gwent Dragons 14.30 Canal+

SUNDAY 16 JANUARY, 2011:
Pool 3 Toulon v Munster 16.00 FR2
Pool 3 London Irish v Ospreys 15.00 S4C
Pool 6 Glasgow Warriors v London Wasps 13.00 Sky Sports

ROUND 6

FRIDAY 21 JANUARY, 2011:Pool 2 Saracens v ASM Clermont Auvergne 20.00
Pool 2 Racing Metro 92 v Leinster 21.00

SATURDAY 22 JANUARY, 2011:
Pool 1 Castres Olympique v Northampton Saints 18.45
Pool 1 Edinburgh v Cardiff Blues 17.45
Pool 3 Munster v London Irish 15.30
Pool 3 Ospreys v Toulon 15.30
Pool 4 Aironi Rugby v Ulster Rugby 14.30
Pool 4 Biarritz Olympique v Bath Rugby 14.30

SUNDAY 23 JANUARY, 2011:Pool 5 Perpignan v Scarlets 14.00
Pool 5 Leicester Tigers v Benetton Treviso 13.00
Pool 6 Newport Gwent Dragons v Glasgow Warriors 15.00
Pool 6 London Wasps v Toulouse 15.00

Ulster name squad for Leinster clash

The Ulster squad, from which the starting XV and replacements to play Leinster at Ravenhill on Monday 27th December (ko 4pm) will be selected, has been named.

With the Irish international players unavailable for selection under the Player Management Programme, Brian McLaughlin's side for the Magners' League interprovincial derby will have a different look to those which recorded back-to-back Heineken Cup wins over Bath in recent weeks.

The Ulster starting XV and replacements will be named on Friday at noon.

Meanwhile, with an almost sell-out crowd, grounds-staff at Ravenhill are working hard to ensure a playable surface and safe ground for spectators.

The pitch is in good condition and well insulated under the lying snow and staff are bringing in machinery to help scrape the snow and frost from the terraces and walkways.

Forwards: Declan Fitzpatrick, Paddy McAllister, Bryan Young, BJ Botha, Jerry Cronin, Nigel Brady, Andi Kyriacou, Tim Barker, Neil McComb, Johann Muller, Dan Tuohy, Ryan Caldwell, TJ Anderson, Robbie Diack, Chris Henry, Willie Faloon, Pedrie Wannenburg

Backs: David McIlwaine, Adam D'Arcy, Jamie Smith, Simon Danielli, Tommy Seymour, Craig Gilroy, Luke Marshall, Nevin Spence, Ian Whitten, Ian Humphreys, Niall O'Connor, Paul Marshall, Ruan Pienaar

Munster appeal against O'Connell ban

Munster have confirmed they have lodged an appeal against Paul O'Connell's four-week ban.
Ireland lock O'Connell was handed the suspension by a European Rugby Cup disciplinary hearing after he was sent off for striking Ospreys back-rower Jonathan Thomas during Munster's 22-16 Heineken Cup victory at Thomond Park on December 12.

The ban means the 2009 Lions captain will be available for the province's crucial European trip to Toulon next month, but with the 31-year-old having missed most of the season to date with a groin injury Munster hope to have him available to play before that fixture.

A Munster statement read: 'Munster Rugby can today confirm they have appealed the ERC disciplinary decision handed down to Paul O'Connell at last Thursday's ERC hearing in Dublin.

'Munster Rugby now wait on the ERC to issue a date for the hearing.'