Exeter begin Champions Cup title defence at home to Glasgow, 2020/21 pool fixtures confirmed

Exeter Chiefs, who secured a first top-flight European title in last month, will begin their defence of the Heineken Champions Cup with an opening round clash against Glasgow Warriors on Sunday, December 13.

The Pool B Exeter contest at Sandy Park is one of a series of high-quality matches in the fixture schedules of the 2020/21 Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup which have been announced by tournament organisers EPCR (click here for the Champions Cup fixtures schedule).

The television coverage in the United Kingdom and Ireland of this season’s expanded Heineken Champions Cup continues to be led by BT Sport who will once again broadcast every match live. 

Thomas Waldrom talks about the characters inside the Exeter dressing room

Thomas Waldrom talks about the characters inside the Exeter dressing room

The 24-club competition, featuring nine previous winners with 19 titles between them, will also be available on a free-to-air basis with one key match per round on Channel 4 and Virgin Media.

The opening free-to-air match pits the recent Challenge Cup winners, Bristol Bears, against experienced European campaigners Clermont at Ashton Gate in Pool B on December 12. 

FIXTURES ?

The #HeinekenChampionsCup will be BACK in exactly 4?? weeks as the new season kicks off on Friday 11 December ?

24 clubs, 59 games, 1 trophy – and every match on @btsportrugby ?

Find out more ??https://t.co/zXv6stDD7c

— Investec Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) November 13, 2020

On the same day, Guinness PRO14 champions Leinster start their quest for a record fifth title against Montpellier at the GGL Stadium in Pool B, while Wasps, who were defeated by Exeter Chiefs in the Gallagher Premiership final, take on the Dragons at Rodney Parade in Pool A as the Welsh region makes a return to the tournament for the first time in ten years.

The journey to the 2021 finals weekend in Marseille gets underway on Friday, December 11, when former winners Northampton host the number one-ranked Top 14 representative, Bordeaux, at Franklin’s Gardens in Pool A. It is followed by the Pool B meeting of Ulster and four-time champions Toulouse at Kingspan Stadium.

The modified Challenge Cup, which starts with 14 clubs, also kicks off on December 11 with newly-promoted Newcastle Falcons, up against Cardiff Blues at Kingston Park, Leicester Tigers taking on Brive Welford Road and Stade Francais hosting Benetton at Stade Jean-Bouin (click here for the Challenge Cup fixtures schedule).

It's been a painful return, with even England's Mark Wilson suffering https://t.co/9gpuneQO2I

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 13, 2020