At least one match will be screened each Friday, three each Saturday, and two each Sunday, with extra select Heineken Cup matches available live to Sky Digital viewers through the interactive function by pressing the red button. 

Many games will also be shown exclusively live throughout the UK and Ireland in high-definition, with Sky+ HD viewers offered a cinema-like experience with sharper, clearer, more vibrant pictures. 

The live Heineken Cup fixtures for the first four rounds include:

+ MUNSTER vs MONTAUBAN – Friday 10 October: Munster open the defense of their title at the newly redeveloped Thomond Park against French side Montauban, to kick off the exclusive Heineken Cup coverage on Sky Sports.

+ LEICESTER TIGERS vs OSPREYS – Sunday 12 October: Live and exclusive coverage of this rematch between the two EDF Energy Cup finalists, when the Ospreys became the first Welsh side to lift the trophy at Twickenham. 

+ LEINSTER vs LONDON WASPS – Saturday 18 October: In the second round of the tournament, viewers can watch an exclusive clash between last season’s Magners League winners and the Guinness Premiership title holders.

Announcing the fixtures, Martin Turner, executive producer for Rugby Union at Sky Sports, said: “The Heineken Cup is now better than ever and supported by great television coverage.  There are more matches and more chances for fans to see their team, giving viewers at home more reasons to tune in.”

Derek McGrath, ERC Chief Executive said: “The quality and quantity of coverage of the Heineken Cup offered by Sky Sports and ERC’s other European partners means fans have a wealth of world class European rugby to look forward to when the 14th Heineken Cup kicks-off in October.”

Highlights, analysis and a comprehensive round-up of the weekend’s matches will be shown on European Rugby Special, a weekly programme broadcast every Sunday of the tournament.

The Heineken Cup is part of a non-stop season of live rugby union on Sky Sports, from international, European and domestic levels.  Alongside the Heineken Cup, Sky Sports will broadcast exclusively live coverage of the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, along with England’s Autumn internationals, the Guinness Premiership, Tri Nations, Super 14s, Currie Cup, Air New Zealand Cup, and the Varsity match. 

Live broadcasts are supported by The Rugby Club, now in its 12th year.  The weekly magazine show features in-depth previews, analysis and reaction throughout the season, with presenter Simon Lazenby joined in the studio by Dewi Morris, Stuart Barnes, Will Greenwood and Ieuan Evans.  

Simon Lazenby will host the Heineken Cup matches with studio analysts including Dewi Morris, Will Greenwood, Michael Lynagh, Ieuan Evans, Paul Wallace, Mark Robson, Kenny Logan and Scott Quinnell.  Stuart Barnes and Miles Harrison are behind the mics for many of the big games and Graham Simmons will be pitchside for interviews with players and coaches.

Confirmed live matches from the Heineken Cup:

Round 1    Friday 10 October           Munster v Montauban                                  LIVE 20:00
Round 1    Saturday 11 October       Edinburgh v Leinster                                   LIVE 13:35
Round 1    Saturday 11 October       Rugby Calvisano v Cardiff  Blues                  LIVE 13:35 i
Round 1    Saturday 11 October       ASM Clermont Auvergne v Sale Sharks          LIVE 13:35 i
Round 1    Saturday 11 October       Ulster Rugby v Stade Français Paris              LIVE 15:30
Round 1    Saturday 11 October       Llanelli Scarlets v Harlequins                       LIVE 15:30 i
Round 1    Saturday 11 October       Gloucester Rugby v Biarritz Olympique         LIVE 17:30
Round 1    Sunday 12 October         Leicester Tigers v Ospreys                            LIVE 13:00
Round 1    Sunday 12 October         Toulouse v Bath Rugby                                LIVE 15:00
Round 2    Friday 17 October           Glasgow Warriors v Toulouse                      LIVE 20:00
Round 2    Saturday 18 October       Stade Français Paris v Llanelli Scarlets         LIVE 13:35
Round 2    Saturday 18 October       Benetton Treviso v Leicester Tigers               LIVE 13:35 i
Round 2    Saturday 18 October       Ospreys v Perpignan                                    LIVE 15:30
Round 2    Saturday 18 October       Leinster v London Wasps                             LIVE 17:30
Round 2    Saturday 18 October       Castres Olympique v Edinburgh                   LIVE 17:30 i
Round 2    Sunday 19 October         Sale Sharks v Munster                                  LIVE 13:00
Round 2    Sunday 19 October         Bath Rugby v Newport Gwent Dragons         LIVE 13:00 i
Round 2    Sunday 19 October         Cardiff Blues v Gloucester Rugby                  LIVE 15:00
Round 3    Friday 5 December          Ulster Rugby v Llanelli Scarlets                    LIVE 20:00
Round 3    Friday 5 December          Cardiff Blues v Biarritz Olympique                LIVE 20:00 i
Round 3    Saturday 6 December      Leinster v Castres Olympique                       LIVE 13:35
Round 3    Saturday 6 December      Toulouse v Newport Gwent Dragons            LIVE 13:35 i
Round 3    Saturday 6 December      Rugby Calvisano v Gloucester Rugby            LIVE 13:35 i
Round 3    Saturday 6 December      Stade Français Paris v Harlequins                LIVE 15:30
Round 3    Saturday 6 December      Leicester Tigers v Perpignan                         LIVE 17:30
Round 3    Sunday 7 December        Bath Rugby v Glasgow Warriors                   LIVE 13:00
Round 3    Sunday 7 December        ASM Clermont Auvergne v Munster               LIVE 15:00
Round 4    Friday 12 December        Castres Olympique v Leinster                       LIVE 20:00
Round 4    Friday 12 December        Llanelli Scarlets v Ulster Rugby                    LIVE 20:00 i
Round 4    Saturday 13 December    Biarritz Olympique v Cardiff Blues                LIVE 13:35
Round 4    Saturday 13 December    Benetton Treviso v Ospreys                          LIVE 13:35 i
Round 4    Saturday 13 December    Munster v ASM Clermont Auvergne               LIVE 15:30
Round 4    Saturday 13 December    Harlequins v Stade Français Paris                LIVE 17:30
Round 4    Sunday 14 December      London Wasps v Edinburgh                         LIVE 13:00
Round 4    Sunday 14 December      Perpignan v Leicester Tigers                         LIVE 15:00