European Champions Cup

It's a clash of the titans as the tournament kicks off

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Friday, kick-offs 8pm. Premier Sports

This season's European Champions Cup begins on Friday with a double-header of action as Sale Sharks welcome Glasgow Warriors to Salford and South African side Stormers travel to Bayonne in France. Last season saw Bordeaux Bègles claim the title for the first time, and captain Maxime Lucu and his Top 14 teammates will be aiming, once again, to make it through to the final, held in May at the San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao.

Each team plays four opponents (but not teams from their own domestic leagues) in the pool stage, with the top four in each pool qualifying for the knockout stage, while the four fifth-placed teams drop down to the European Challenge Cup (see panel, right).

All 63 matches in this season's 24-team competition will be screened exclusively live on Premier Sports, which also has broadcasting rights for the Challenge Cup. Here's our guide to the groups...