THE 2013 Heineken Cup final at the Aviva Stadium will be battled over on Saturday, May 18 as European Rugby Cup Limited announced the dates of the pathway from the first round to last.
Without the Rugby World Cup as a hindrance, the First Round will be returned to their traditional October dates with the first fixtures taking place on the weekend of October 11th, 12th and 13th.
Heineken Cup quarter-finalists Leinster, Munster and Ulster will all compete in next year's competition with Connacht due to qualify on the back of an Irish province winning the trophy this season. Otherwise, Eric Elwood's side will revert to the Amlin Challenge Cup. Fixtures for that competition will take place on the corresponding weekends.
2012/13 Heineken Cup & Amlin Challenge Cup dates
Round 1 - 11/12/13/14 October 2012
Round 2 - 18/19/20/21 October 2012
Round 3 -- 6/7/8/9 December 2012
Round 4 - 13/14/15/16 December 2012
Round 5 - 10/11/12/13 January 2013
Round 6 - 17/18/19/20 January 2013
Quarter-finals - 4/5/6/7 April 2013
Semi-finals - 26/27/28 April 2013
Finals - 17/18/19 May 2013