The culmination of the Heineken Cup 2001-02 has been set for the first weekend of June.
In another change to schedule both the Heineken Cup and European Shield tournaments will pool matches split into three blocks of two rounds in the first half of the 2001/02 season.
``We are delighted to be able to give the clubs this early notification of the structure for next season,'' said European Rugby Cup Ltd chairman Jean-Pierre Lux.
``This early, unified decision was passed with the full support of the ERC Ltd board of directors at their meeting in Dublin today and takes into account all the views of the six participating unions and their clubs.''
This season there has been an 11-week gap between Heineken Cup pool matches and the consensus of British clubs is that these matches should be played in one block.
ERC Ltd chief executive Derek McGrath said: ``There was a strong desire for the Heineken Cup final in particular to be the last major showpiece occasion of the European season.
``We believe this decision will enhance the profile and importance of the competitions in the future and allow them to go from strength to strength.''
Dates for the 2001/02 European competitions:
Pool matches: Round one - September 28-30, 2001; Round Two - October 5-7; Round three - October 26-28; Round four - November 2-4; Round five - January 4-6, 2002; Round six - January 11-13.
Quarter-finals - January 25-27;
Semi-finals - May 4-5;
Finals - June 1-2.