The Heineken Cup is the top club rugby competition in the northern hemisphere with teams from the six IRB countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship. Get in the Gear of the Heineken Cup at the World Rugby Shop.
As the European club rugby season kicks off this weekend with the opening rounds of the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup, tournament organisers, the European Rugby Cup, have instructed all match officials in both competitions to be particularly vigilant in a number of key areas.
London Irish kick off their campaign against Madejski Stadium visitors Edinburgh in the Heineken Cup on Saturday (kick-off 1.30pm).
Northampton boss Jim Mallinder believes Munster will be "under pressure" to deliver a result in Saturday's Heineken Cup clash (kick-off 6pm).
Bath completed the double over Glasgow Warriors when the sides last met in the European Cup three seasons ago, but the home team is determined to make the Firhill Arena a fortress when Bath visit on Sunday.
Saracens, the reigning English champions, will have their sights on European Cup domination when they host Italian outfit, Benetton Treviso, at Vicarage Road on Sunday.
Toulouse, the most successful side in Europe, will kick off their Heineken Cup campaign when they host Gloucester at the Stade Ernest Wallon on Sunday.
The Ospreys will be hoping 13 is their lucky number as they look to exact revenge against Biarritz Olympique in their Pool opener at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.
Last season's quarterfinalists Ulster will want to build on last season's performances, but will have their work cut out when they host one of the favourites for this season's European Cup - Clermont.
The Scarlets won many plaudits for their free-flowing game in last season's European Cup and the Welsh region will be looking to kick their 2011/12 campaign off with a victory against French giants Castres Olympique as they begin the hunt for their first quarterfinal appearance since 2007.
Aironi caused arguably the biggest upset in European Cup history when the beat Biarritz Olympique in a Pool game last season and registered their first ever competitive victory as a team.
Tournament debutants Montpellier welcome European Cup champions Leinster to the south of France on Saturday.
London Irish will be hoping for another impressive start to the European Cup when they welcome Edinburgh to the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.
Northampton captain Dylan Hartley insists his side have learned from the pain of their Heineken Cup final defeat against Leinster last term.
Montpellier have struggled to make an impact in the Top 14 this season but on Saturday they will look to catch European Cup holders Leinster cold and make it a memorable debut in the competition.
This weekend 44 of Europe's top club and district sides, from Scotland to Romania, will enter into tough competition for the European Cup, called the Heineken Cup, and the European Challenge Cup, called the Amlin Challenge Cup.
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