Capital clash as Cardiff Blues begin European campaign against Edinburgh at home.
Capital clash as Cardiff Blues begin European campaign against Edinburgh at home.
The Blues will face familiar foe, Magners League rivals, Edinburgh on the opening weekend of the 2010/11 Heineken Cup, as they kick off their European campaign at home on Saturday 9th October, 7.30pm.
Edinburgh have become something of a bogey team for the Blues in recent seasons, but after becoming the first Welsh region to lift European silverware last season, Cardiff Blues will be keen to continue and improve upon their success this term.
The week after Edinburgh visit, the Blues travel to the south of France to meet Castres Olympique at the Stade Pierre Antoine, on Friday 15th October ko 9.00pm (local time).
The Blues now have a habit of performing well on the road in Europe and have strengthened their squad over the summer with players such as Dan Parks and Michael Paterson joining from Glasgow and Crusaders respectively.
The pre-Christmas back to back matches of rounds 3 & 4 will pit Cardiff Blues against the team that lifted the European Challenge Cup the season before them, Northampton Saints.
The Saints are an increasingly formidable force, following some memorable clashes against Munster last season and in English Premiership they reached the semi-final of last year’s competition, only to be beaten at home by Saracens.
This season they welcome the Blues to Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday 11th December, kick off 6.00pm.
The following weekend Northampton, will travel down to Cardiff to face the Blues on Sunday 19th December, kick off 3.00pm.
After the Christmas break the Blues host Castres on the weekend of 14/15/16 January and round 6, when the Blues will travel to Edinburgh will be played over the weekend of 21/22/23 January, the dates and times of these matches will be confirmed after round 4.