O’Connell set for Aviva return in December

PAUL O’CONNELL will say farewell to Aviva Stadium as an Ireland player when Joe Schmidt’s side take on Wales on August 29, but he will be back in the red of Toulon four months later. If fit, O’Connell (right) will surely be in the defending champions’ engine room in a roundfour Champions Cup pool game against Leinster. The final for this season’s Champions Cup is set for Lyon on May 14, but Leinster’s interest could be over by the time O’Connell arrives in Dublin as two of their opening three matches are away. They face round two and three trips to Bath and Toulon respectively after their RDS opener against Wasps. Their schedule contrasts with the draws handed to Munster and Ulster, who both have home advantage twice in their three opening matches. Connacht, meanwhile, were left in their dark about their Challenge Cup itinerary due to the inclusion of the Siberian-based Enisei-STM, as logistics surrounding the Russians are still being worked out.

CHAMPIONS CUP FIXTURES

LEINSTER – Nov 15: Wasps (H, 1.0pm), Nov 21: Bath (A, 3.15pm), Dec 13: Toulon (A, 3.15pm), Dec 19: Toulon (H, 5.15pm), Jan 15-17: Bath (H), Jan 22-24: Wasps (A).

MUNSTER – Nov 14: Treviso (H, 5.15pm), Nov 22: Stade Francais (A, 3.15pm), Dec 12: Leicester (H, 7.45), Dec 20: Leicester (A, 5.15pm), Jan 15-17: Stade Francais (H), Jan 22-24: Treviso (A).

ULSTER – Nov 14: Oyonnax (A, 1pm), Nov 20: Saracens (H, 7.45), Dec 11: Toulouse (H, 7.45), Dec 20: Toulouse (A, 1.0pm), Jan 15-17: Saracens (A), Jan 22-24: Oyonnax (H).