Thursday Lunch Sports Update: Heineken Champions Cup Fixtures Released.

Opening round begins in December.

RUGBY

Leinster will begin their Heineken Champions Cup campaign away to Racing next season.

The opening round is scheduled to take place over the second weekend in December.

Munster will welcome Toulouse to Thomond Park, in a repeat of last season's quarter-final tie.

And Ulster are set to travel to England to play Sale.

In the Challenge Cup, Connacht's first fixture is at home to Newcastle.


SOCCER

St Pat's and Sligo Rovers are both in European action tonight.

Pat's take on Slovenia's Mura at Richmond Park in the second round of Europa Conference League qualifying.

In the same competition, Sligo Rovers are in Scotland for a meeting with Motherwell.

Both games kick off at 7.45pm.


Germany and Austria contest a Women's European Championship quarter final at the Brentford Community Stadium from 8pm.


ATHLETICS

Rhasidat Adeleke just missed out on a place in the women's 400 metres final at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon overnight.

The 19 year old finished fourth in her semi final in a time of 50 point 8-7 seconds.

Mark English is into the semi finals of the men's 800 metres after finishing third in his heat.

English clocked his second fastest ever time - 1 minute 44 point 7-6 seconds and his semi final is in the early hours of tomorrow morning, Irish time.

Louise Shanahan runs in the heats of the women's 800 metres in the early hours of tomorrow.


GAELIC GAMES

Declan Bonner has stepped down as manager of the Donegal senior footballers.

The Na Rossa clubman spent five years in charge during his second stint at the helm, winning two Ulster titles.

And Longford are also on the lookout for a new manager after Billy O'Loughlin's departure was confirmed last night.


RACING

There's a seven-race card at Limerick this evening, with the first going to post at 5.15.

While the summer series at Leopardstown continues, with a seven-race card underway at 5.30.