How are the Irish provinces shaping up for Europe?

Key points

• The Investec Champions Cup starts in October for the first time since 2018, with Irish provinces having played only three league games each.
• Leinster, last season's beaten finalists, have lost key players like James Lowe and Rieko Ioane, and face a tough pool.
• Munster, Connacht and Ulster all face challenging European campaigns, with Ulster again in the Challenge Cup.

The Investec Champions Cup begins this weekend in October, the first time since 2018 that the competition has started so early. The road to the final in Lyon starts with Irish provinces having played just three United Rugby Championship (URC) games each. BBC Sport NI examines how Leinster, Munster, Connacht and Ulster are shaping up.

Leinster, last season's beaten finalists, remain Ireland's leading side but enter with a weaker squad after losing James Lowe, Rieko Ioane, Rabah Slimani and Ciaran Frawley. Only Frawley was replaced, by the returning Joey Carbery, who is yet to feature because of injury. Leinster have won 31 consecutive Champions Cup pool games but have not won the title since 2018.

Munster and Connacht face tough draws

Munster exited last season's competition in disappointing fashion, losing at home to Castres in the final pool round to drop into the Challenge Cup. The two-time winners have not secured a home knock-out tie in four seasons. They face an away trip to reigning champions Bordeaux-Begles and will be without Jack Crowley for at least the first pool fixtures.

Connacht, the URC's eighth and final qualifier, were given a harsh draw. Eight of the past 11 Champions Cup titles have been won by teams they will face: Saracens, Exeter, La Rochelle and Toulouse. Stuart Lancaster's side have won one of their opening three league games, with scrum and discipline issues a concern.

While few sides relish a visit to Galway, a scalp in this pool would sit alongside previous victories over Toulouse as one of the province's biggest European wins.

— BBC Sport NI

Ulster aim for Challenge Cup return

Ulster missed out on top-tier European rugby for the second consecutive season after reaching last year's Challenge Cup final, where they were thumped by Montpellier in Bilbao. They are paired with Zebre, Dragons, Bayonne and Perpignan. Ulster will expect to reach the knock-out stages, where they beat Racing 92, Exeter Chiefs and La Rochelle a year ago.

The northern province must balance a European run with the ambition to return to the URC play-offs after a two-year absence. Their depth will be tested in the knock-out stages. Ensuring they are not back in the Challenge Cup next season should be the goal.