Munster Rugby set for reunion with familiar face at last 16 stage of Investec Champions Cup

MUNSTER Rugby are facing an away fixture with Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle at the last 16 stage of the Investec Champions Cup.

The fixture with the French Top 14 side at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre will take place on the weekend of April 4-6. Exact fixture details are set to be confirmed in the coming days.

2022 and 2023 Champions Cup winners La Rochelle have home advantage after finishing second in Pool 2 and are eighth seeds. Munster are ninth seeds after finishing third in Pool 3.

Should Munster overcome La Rochelle they would take on the winners of the tie between Bordeaux Begles and Ulster at the quarter-final stage. A quarter-final with Bordeaux would take place in France, while Munster would have home advantage for any quarter-final meeting with Ulster. 

This will be the third successive season that Munster must travel for the round of 16 stage of the competition after the two-time winners suffered a dramatic 34-32 defeat to Northampton Saints at cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens on Saturday afternoon.

Having lost away last 16 fixtures to the Sharks in 2022 and Northampton in 2023, Munster will fully appreciate how big a task the two-time European Cup winners will face in France.

A hat-trick of tries from Northampton winger Tom Seabrook helped the Saints secure victory and a top seeding for the knockout stages.

Munster scored four tries of their own, with Limerick winger Calvin Nash and fellow winger Diarmuid Kilgallen notching a brace of touchdowns each as two bonus points ensured their progress to the Round of 16.

Kilgallen was making his competitive debut for Munster on Saturday having joined the province last summer. Leg and wrist injuries have limited him to one appearance in the opening months of the season, against the All Blacks XV at Thomond Park.

Shane Daly was unavailable for selection for Saturday's game as he continues the graduated return-to-play protocols with flanker John Hodnett ruled out due to a knock.

Munster now switch their focus back to the URC next weekend as they face a trip to Wales to take on the Dragons at Rodney Parade on Saturday, 7.35pm kick-off. Munster are in 11th spot in the table while the Dragons are bottom with just one win from nine games.

INVESTEC CHAMPIONS CUP:

Round of 16 - April 4-6

R16 1: Union Bordeaux-Bègles (1) v Ulster Rugby (16)

R16 2: Leinster Rugby (2) v Harlequins (15)

R16 3: Northampton Saints (3) v ASM Clermont Auvergne (14)

R16 4: RC Toulon (4) v Saracens (13)

R16 5: Stade Toulousain (5) v Sale Sharks (12)

R16 6: Castres Olympique (6) v Benetton Rugby (11)

R16 7: Glasgow Warriors (7) v Leicester Tigers (10)

R16 8: Stade Rochelais (8) v Munster Rugby (9)

NB The clubs ranked numbers 1 to 8 will have home venue advantage

Quarter-finals - April 11-13
QF 1: Winner R16 1 v Winner R16 8
QF 2: Winner R16 2 v Winner R16 7
QF 3: Winner R16 3 v Winner R16 6
QF 4: Winner R16 4 v Winner R16 5

NB The highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home venue advantage

Semi-finals - May 2-4
SF 1: Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 4
SF 2: Winner QF 2 v Winner QF 3

NB The matches will be played in Europe and where relevant the highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home country advantage

2025 Investec Champions Cup final - Saturday, May 24; Principality Stadium, Cardiff (14.45 local time)