Leinster and La Rochelle's rematch will be the standout fixture on the opening round of the Champions Cup next season, after the EPCR confirmed fixture details for the 2023/24 campaign.
Leo Cullen's side face a daunting start to their tournament, and will face the European champions away from home in their opening Pool 4 game, just over six months on from losing to La Rochelle in last season's final in May,
Following last month's draw for the pool stages, EPCR have announced the full dates and kick-off times, with an algorithm used to decide who plays whom at home and away.
Leinster will take on Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle on Sunday 10 December, with a 3.15pm kick-off (Irish time) at Stade Marcel Deflandre.
The four-time champions will then welcome the Sale Sharks to Dublin on Saturday 16 December (5.30pm), before hosting Stade Francais on Saturday 13 January (both live on RTÉ), and finishing their pool campaign away to Leicester Tigers on Saturday 20 January (3.15pm)
URC champions Munster are set to travel to Exeter and Toulon for their away games. Graham Rowntree's side welcome Bayonne to Thomond Park in Round 1, with a 5.30pm kick-off on Saturday 9 December (live on RTÉ).
The province then face two away trips in a row, playing Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on Sunday 17 December (1pm) and Toulon at Stade Felix Mayol (3.15pm Irish time) on Saturday 13 January. Munster's final Pool 3 game will be at home to the Northampton Saints on Saturday 20 January (live on RTÉ).
Connacht's opening fixture on their return to the Champions Cup will see them host Bordeaux-Begles in Round 1, with an 8pm kick-off at the Sportsground.
Pete Wilkins' side will be away to Premiership champions Saracens in Round 2, before travelling to Lyon in January. Their final Pool 1 game will see them welcome their former coach Pat Lam back to the Sportsground on Saturday 19 January.
Ulster will be away from home in the opening round, with the 1999 champions facing Bath at the Rec, before they take on Racing 92 at Kingspan Stadium. In Round 3, Dan McFarland's side are set to go up against Toulouse in France, before closing out their campaign against Harlequins at the Rec.
The top four teams in each pool will qualify for the Round of 16, which will be played over the weekend of 5/6/7 April, before the quarter-final, semi-final and final, with the decider taking place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday 25 May.
Full fixtures (all kick-offs Irish time)
Round 1
Connacht v Bordeaux-Begles, Friday 8 December, 8pm (The Sportsground)
Bath v Ulster, Saturday 9 December, 3.15pm (The Rec)
Munster v Bayonne, Saturday 9 December, 5.30pm (Thomond Park) Live on RTÉ
La Rochelle v Leinster, Sunday 10 December, 3.15pm (Stade Marcel Deflandre)
Round 2
Saracens v Connacht, Saturday 16 December, 1pm (StoneX Stadium)
Leinster v Sale Sharks, Saturday 16 December, 5.30pm (RDS/Aviva Stadium) Live on RTÉ
Ulster v Racing 92, Saturday 16 December, 8pm (Kingspan Stadium)
Exeter Chiefs v Munster, Sunday 17 December, 1pm (Sandy Park)
Round 3
Lyon v Connacht, Saturday 13 January, 1pm (Stadium de Gerland)
Toulon v Munster, Saturday 13 January, 3.15pm (Stade Felix Mayol)
Leinster v Stade Francais, Saturday 13 January, 5.30pm (RDS/Aviva Stadium) Live on RTÉ
Ulster v Toulouse, Saturday 13 January, 8pm (Kingspan Stadium)
Round 4
Connacht v Bristol Bears, Friday 19 January, 8pm, (The Sportsground)
Harlequins v Ulster, Saturday 20 January, 1pm (The Stoop)
Leicester Tigers v Leinster, Saturday 20 January (Welford Road)
Munster v Northampton Saints, Saturday 20 January (Thomond Park) Live on RTÉ
