Possible Champions Cup semi-final venues confirmed
The venues for the Champions Cup semi-finals have been confirmed.
Ahead of the weekend’s Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals, the EPCR have revealed the possible venues for the tournament’s semi-finals.
Saturday’s action sees Bordeaux and Harlequins face off in France, followed by a repeat of the last two finals, with Leinster and La Rochelle clashing at the Aviva Stadium.
Meanwhile, the Bulls head to the East Midlands, where they will tackle an in-form Northampton Saints, with the last clash of the weekend taking place on Sunday when Toulouse face off against Exeter Chiefs.
Where to next?
The Champions Cup semi-finals are set to take place on the first weekend of May, and the potential venues for the play-off fixtures have been confirmed.
With Toulouse and Leinster being the top-seeded teams from the pool stages, they will host their semi-finals in the event that they win this weekend.
Toulouse would host Bordeaux or Harlequins at Le Stadium while Leinster will host Northampton Saints or the Bulls at Croke Park.
If La Rochelle defeat Leinster this weekend, Ronan O’Gara’s side will head to Milton Keynes, where Saints will host the semi-final at Stadium MK, or the stadium in the northern hemisphere assigned to the Bulls for a semi-final.
Bulls boss Jake White previously stated that it would be Bristol Bears’ home ground, Ashton Gate, as South African teams cannot host any Champions Cup semi-finals this season.
Bulls leave 11 Springboks at home for crunch Champions Cup play-off
Bordeaux will host a semi-final at Matmut Atlantique if they defeat Harlequins, and Toulouse lose to Exeter Chiefs, who will then make the trip across the channel.
However, if Harlequins beat Bordeaux and Exeter stun Toulouse, then Quins will clash with Exeter at Ashton Gate.
Respected Premiership boss warns that a Club World Cup could ‘easily create bigger issues’
Investec Champions Cup semi-final matches and venues
3/4/5 May (Pool stage rankings in brackets)
Toulouse (1) v Bordeaux-Begles (4) or Harlequins (5) – Le Stadium, Toulouse (capacity: 33,150)
Leinster (2) v Northampton Saints (3) or Bulls (6) – Croke Park, Dublin (capacity: 82,300)
Northampton Saints (3) v La Rochelle (10) – Stadium MK, Milton Keynes (capacity: 30,500)
Bordeaux-Bègles (4) v Exeter Chiefs (8) – Matmut Atlantique, Bordeaux (capacity: 42,100).
Harlequins (5) v Exeter Chiefs (8) – Ashton Gate Stadium (capacity: 27,000)
Bulls (6) v La Rochelle (10) – UK venue TBC