ERC announced on Thursday the format for the Heineken Cup 2004 / 2005 tournament. The six Pool stages will revert to the pre-World Cup formula of three blocks of two rounds, starting in October and completing in early January, 2005.

The quarter-finals and semi-finals will be staged in April - with a three-week gap - with the Heineken Cup final being played on the weekend of 21 / 22 May.

HEINEKEN CUP 2004 / 2005

ROUND 1 - 22 / 23/ 24 October

ROUND 2 - 29 / 30 / 31 October

ROUND 3 - 3 / 4 / 5 December

ROUND 4 - 10 / 11 / 12 December

ROUND 5 - 7 / 8 / 9 January, 2005

ROUND 6 - 14 / 15 / 16 January

HEINEKEN CUP QUARTER-FINALS - 1 / 2 / 3 April

HEINEKEN CUP SEMI-FINALS - 22 / 23 / 24 April

HEINEKEN CUP FINAL - 21 / 22 May