Leinster's Friday night Heineken Cup opposition, Bristol, have been dealt a major injury blow with the news that hooker Neil McCarthy faces six months on the sidelines after suffering knee ligament damage.
Bristol's Pool 4 challenge could also be further weakened tomorrow when their prop Julian White appears before English RFU disciplinary chiefs. White allegedly head-butted Leicester's Graham Rowntree in a Zurich Premiership game eight days ago - an offence which could land him a 20-week ban.
The first pool matches of this season’s Heineken Cup begin on Friday, with Leinster the only Irish side in action at Donnybrook (7.35pm kick-off). Munster begin their campaign in Pool 2 away to Gloucester at 3pm on Saturday, while Ulster travel to Northampton for their opening Pool 6 match on Sunday (4.30pm kick-off). Meanwhile, Connacht play the first leg of their first round Parker Pen Challenge Cup clash away to French side Mont de Marsan on Saturday.
Filed by James Boylan.
