Munster players after their side’s defeat in the Investec Champions Cup Pool 3 match between Northampton Saints and Munster at cinch Stadium
Ronan O’Gara will welcome Munster to La Rochelle in the Investec Champions Cup Round of 16 in April.
The legendary former out-half has not coached against his old team since the 2016/17 season when he was an assistant at Racing 92 and taking them on as a head coach will be an altogether different matter.
With one match to go, the line-up for the round of 16 is not yet complete but the mouthwatering fixture is locked in after Castres shocked Saracens to leapfrog them and Munster into second in Pool 3.
Tickets for the Stade Marcel Deflandre will be in high demand for the clash which will take place on the first weekend in April. Last week’s defeat to Leinster was La Rochell’s 101st consecutive sell out and it’s likely a huge number of the Red Army will make the trip to the Atlantic coast.
Munster went close to securing home advantage for the knockouts against Northampton Saints, but their 34-32 defeat means they’ve to go on the road for the third successive season having lost to the Sharks in Durban in 2023 and Saints at Franklin’s Gardens.
Despite winning just one pool match, Ulster squeezed into the knockouts after the Sharks’ heavy defeat to Bordeaux earlier today meant the South Africans slipped into fifth in Pool 1.
Richie Murphy’s side’s reward for qualifying on five points is a daunting away game against Bordeaux who won well in Belfast before Christmas.
Leinster are awaiting confirmation of their round of 16 opponents, with Sale Sharks in action against Toulon.
If Toulon fail to beat their hosts by more than 36 points, then Leinster will secure a top two seeding and face Stuart Lancaster, Owen Farrell and Racing 92 at Croke Park. If Toulon manage that margin or more, then Leinster will host Clermont.
However, if Sale Sharks win with a bonus point then Leinster will face Harlequins at GAA headquarters.
