Booth: Euro targets
London Irish's attention turns from domestic competition to European club rugby this weekend as they host Rovigo.
Having made the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup last season they will be out to return to the top table courtesy of winning this tournament.
The side named by coach Toby Booth is unchanged from that which was fielded in their last Guinness Premiership game.
"Last season all of us connected with London Irish - players, management, directors and supporters, enjoyed the Heineken Cup experience and want to return to that tournament so that we can relive what was a special adventure," said Booth.
"That is one objective we've set ourselves this season, the other is to win silverware. Performing well in the European Challenge Cup and winning it is one route to fulfilling two of our objectives."
London Irish: 15 Delon Armitage, 14 Topsy Ojo, 13 Elvis Seveali'i, 12 Seilala Mapusua, 11 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 10 Peter Hewat, 9 Paul Hodgson, 8 Chris Hala'Ufia, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Richard Thorpe, 5 Bob Casey (c), 4 Nick Kennedy 3 Tonga Lea'aetoa, 2 Danie Coetzee, 1 Alex Corbisiero.
Replacements: 16 Clarke Dermody, 17 James Buckland, 18 Gary Johnson, 19 Declan Danaher, 20 Adam Thompstone, 21 Peter Richards, 22 Shane Geraghty.
Rovigo: 15 Nicola Pavin, 14 Juan Pablo Sanchez, 13 Gabriel Pizarro, 12 Emanuel Pellegrini, 11 Stefan Basson, 10 Stefano Ambrosio, 9 Stefano Canale, 8 Ron Cribb, 7 Jacobus Immelman, 6 Simone Favaro, 5 Marco Barion, 4 Tomasso Reato, 3 Juan Pablo Orlandi, 2 Valerio Vicere, 1 Bruno Fortuna.
Replacements: 16 Andrea De Marchi, 17 Luke Mahoney, 18 Daniele Tumiati, 19 Niccola Badocchi, 20 Younes Anouer, 21 Andrea Bacchetti, 22 Pablo Calanchini.

Worcester 22-26 Harlequins - Highlights
London Irish 25-27 Scarlets - Highlights
Brive 13-36 Leinster - Highlights
Viadana 11-46 Leicester - Highlights
Dragons 22-14 Glasgow - Highlights
Ospreys 25-24 Clermont - Highlights
Bath 27-29 Stade Francais
Bath 27-29 Stade Francais - Blog
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Heineken Cup | |
| Friday 11th December | |
| Heineken Cup | |
| 19:30 | Glasgow Warriors vs Gloucester |
| 20:00 | Munster vs Perpignan |
| Saturday 12th December | |
| 13:30 | Viadana vs The Ospreys |
| 13:35 | Ulster vs Stade Francais |
| 15:00 | Northampton vs Treviso |
| 15:45 | Cardiff Blues vs Toulouse |
| 18:00 | Scarlets vs Leinster |
| 18:00 | Brive vs London Irish |
| Sunday 13th December | |
| 12:45 | Harlequins vs Sale Sharks |
| 12:45 | Biarritz vs The Dragons |
| 15:00 | Bath vs Edinburgh |
| 15:00 | Clermont Auvergne vs Leicester Tigers |
| Friday 18th December | |
| 19:45 | Sale Sharks vs Harlequins |
| 20:00 | The Dragons vs Biarritz |
| Saturday 19th December | |
| 13:30 | Treviso vs Northampton |
| 13:35 | Edinburgh vs Bath |
| 13:35 | Toulouse vs Cardiff Blues |
| 14:30 | The Ospreys vs Viadana |
| 15:00 | London Irish vs Brive |
| 15:45 | Leinster vs Scarlets |
| 15:45 | Stade Francais vs Ulster |
| 18:00 | Leicester Tigers vs Clermont Auvergne |
| Sunday 20th December | |
| 12:45 | Gloucester vs Glasgow Warriors |
| 15:00 | Perpignan vs Munster |
| Result |
|---|
| Heineken Cup |
| Sunday 18th October |
| Heineken Cup |
| Bath 27 - 29 Stade Francais |
| Ospreys 25 - 24 Clermont Auvergne |
| Saturday 17th October |
| Harlequins 19 - 23 Toulouse |
| Edinburgh 17 - 13 Ulster |
| Brive 13 - 36 Leinster |
| London Irish 25 - 27 Scarlets |
| Munster 41 - 10 Treviso |
| Biarritz 42 - 15 Gloucester |
| Viadana 11 - 46 Leicester |
| Friday 16th October |
| Sale 27 - 26 Cardiff Blues |
| Perpignan 29 - 13 Northampton |
| Newport-Gwent D'gons 22 - 14 Glasgow |
| Sunday 11th October |
| Toulouse 36 - 17 Sale |
| Leicester 32 - 32 Ospreys |
| Saturday 10th October |
| Northampton 31 - 27 Munster |
| Glasgow 18 - 22 Biarritz |
| Scarlets 24 - 12 Brive |
| Clermont Auvergne 36 - 18 Viadana |
| Cardiff Blues 20 - 6 Harlequins |
| Stade Francais 31 - 7 Edinburgh |
| Treviso 9 - 8 Perpignan |
| Friday 9th October |
| Gloucester 19 - 17 Newport-Gwent D'gons |
| Leinster 9 - 12 London Irish |
| Ulster 26 - 12 Bath |
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