"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.

The competition resumes this weekend and Cardiff can become the first club into the quarter-finals with victory at home to Ulster.

The Welsh side had back-to-back wins against Saracens going into the 11-week lay-off and coach Lynn Howells will hope they have lost none of their momentum.

However, Howells is among those who advocates six successive weekends of European rugby to decide the quarter-finalists.

He said: "It is difficult for the players to have this type of break. The intensity of European competition is higher than in the domestic league and the 11-week gap hasn't helped the preparation.

"I don't think the gap should be there. It should be run through in one block at least until the quarter-finals."

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.