Munster play host to Leicester tigers this Saturday as the two side’s renew their European rivalry.

Leicester Tigers head coach Matt O’Connor has described Thomond Park as “A special place in European rugby” ahead of his side’s visit to Limerick this Saturday night.

This is the third time in as many years that the East Midlands club has been drawn in a Champions Cup group with the province and have had a mixed bag in terms of results at the ground in that time. They defeated Munster for the second time in their own back yard back in 2015, but it was a different story last year when the home side avenged that defeat with a record 38-0 victory over the Premiership outfit.

“Playing Munster at Thomond Park is one of the great joys in European rugby,” said Tigers head coach O’Connor who experienced the stadium during his time with Irish rivals Leinster.

“A lot of our guys have been there and experienced it now – some have tasted success there and some had a pretty average day there last year – and it is a special place in European rugby.

“We get to park the Premiership for a couple of weeks and move on to Europe and re-focus really quickly. It is a tough ask but it is one the group is really excited about. The guys are looking forward to it.”