Schedule for Heineken Cup showdowns is confirmed

The schedule for final two rounds of matches in the Heineken Cup pool stages has been announced by the European Rugby Cup.

Edinburgh will travel to Paris for a rematch with Racing Metro at the Stade Yves du Manoir on Friday 13 January with an 8pm kick-off. With the capital side sitting joint top of Pool 2 with Cardiff Blues, a victory could take them a long way towards a first quarter-final place since 2004. They will then entertain London Irish at Murrayfield in their final pool match on Sunday 22 January, kicking off at 3.15pm.

In Pool 3, Glasgow Warriors will face champions Leinster at Firhill on Sunday 15 January (kick-off 12.45pm) before travelling to Bath for their final match on Saturday 21 January, (kick-off 1.30pm). Warriors are lying second in their pool.

Meanwhile, England lock Courtney Lawes has signed a new deal with Northampton that will keep him at Franklin’s Gardens until 2015. Lawes, who has 13 England caps, helped Northampton win the European Challenge Cup in 2009 and last year’s LV= Cup after making his debut against Esher four years ago.

Northampton finished runners-up in the Heineken Cup last season and director of rugby Jim Mallinder believes retaining players like Lawes is key to continue competing for major trophies. “Securing the signatures of players like Courtney for three years is very important for us as we look to make the next step up as a club,” Mallinder said.

“We want to be in the mix for the major pieces of silverware every year and to do that we need top players at Franklin’s Gardens.”