Champions Cup fixtures confirmed

By Mark Stevens
7/10/22

Exeter Chiefs will kick-off their Heineken Champions Cup campaign for the 2022/23 season with a Pool A trip to Castres Olympique.

Rob Baxter's side will make their second-ever trip to the Stade Pierre Fabre on Saturday, December 10 (CET 9pm/UK 8pm).

The French outfit, who were defeated in the final of the Top 14 by Montpellier last season, narrowly defeated the Chiefs on home soil 29-25 in the previous meeting back in 2018/19, but were well beaten in the return leg at Sandy Park, 34-12.

A week later, the Chiefs will play host to South African opposition for the first time in Devon when the Vodacom Bulls visit Sandy Park on Saturday, December 17 (1pm).

In what will be the first encounter between the sides, the Chiefs will prepare to take on last season's United Rugby Championship runners-up in what will be a landmark occasion for both clubs.

The competition then takes a break for a month, before the Bulls play host to the Chiefs in Pretoria on Saturday, January 14 at Loftus Versfeld (7:30pm).

Exeter complete their Pool A fixtures with the visit of Castres to Devon on Saturday, January 21 (5:30pm)

BT Sport will broadcast all four games live on their channel, although the clash with the Bulls will also be shown live on ITV Sport.

2022/23 KEY DATES

Round 1

Saturday, December 10 - Castres Olympique v Exeter Chiefs - Stade Pierre Fabre (9pm)

Round 2

Saturday, December 17 - Exeter Chiefs v Vodacom Bulls - Sandy Park (1pm)

Round 3

Saturday, January 14 - Vodacom Bulls - Loftus Versfeld (7:30pm)

Round 4

Saturday, January 21 - Exeter Chiefs v Castres Olympique - Sandy Park (5:30pm)

Round of 16 – 31 March - 1/2 April 2023

Quarter-Finals – 7/8/9 April 2023

Semi-Finals – 28/29/30 April 2023

Heineken Champions Cup Final – Saturday 20 May 2023; Aviva Stadium, Dublin