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EPCR statement: Champions Cup semi-final venue plans confirmed
By Kim Ekin
EPCR have confirmed that five venues have been lined up to potentially stage the upcoming Heineken Champions Cup semi-final next month, depending on which teams progress from the four quarter-finals. La Rochelle, Munster, Leicester and Racing will all respectively host Montpellier, Toulouse, Leinster and Sale in the quarter-finals and the tournament organisers have outlined the likely semi-final venues.
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An EPCR statement read: “In advance of the remaining fixtures in the knockout stage of the 2021/22 Heineken Champions Cup, it has been agreed that for this season only, the semi-finals will be played at the chosen venues of the highest-ranked clubs.
“A total of five venues in France, England and Ireland are in line to stage a semi-final match on the weekend of May 14/15 depending on the results of the quarter-finals.
“Regarding semi-final 1, if Racing 92 qualify, they will play either La Rochelle or Montpellier at the 38,000-capacity Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens as Paris La Défense will be unavailable on the Heineken Champions Cup semi-final weekend.
“If La Rochelle come through to meet Sale, that match will be played at Stade Marcel-Deflandre, and if a semi-final happens to pit Sale against Montpellier, that match will go ahead at the AJ Bell Stadium.
“For semi-final 2, if Leicester win through from the quarter-finals, they will play either Munster or Toulouse at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, and if Leinster earn a last-four place against Toulouse, that match will be scheduled for the 51,000-capacity Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Similarly, if Munster qualify to meet Leinster in a semi-final, then that match will also be staged at the Aviva Stadium as Thomond Park will be unavailable on the weekend of May 14/15.”
HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP semi-finals – May 14/15
(Pool stage rankings in brackets)
Semi-final 1: if Racing 92 (A1) v Stade Rochelais (A3) – Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens
Semi-final 1: if Racing 92 (A1) v Montpellier Hérault Rugby (A7) – Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens
Semi-final 1: if Stade Rochelais (A3) v Sale Sharks (A5) – Stade Marcel-Deflandre
Semi-final 1: if Sale Sharks (A5) v Montpellier Hérault Rugby (A7) – AJ Bell Stadium
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Semi-final 2: if Leicester Tigers (B1) v Munster Rugby (B3) – Mattioli Woods Welford Road
Semi-final 2: if Leicester Tigers (B1) v Stade Toulousain (B7) – Mattioli Woods Welford Road
Semi-final 2: if Munster Rugby (B3) v Leinster Rugby (A4) – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Semi-final 2: if Leinster Rugby (A4) v Stade Toulousain (B7) – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
2022 Heineken Champions Cup final: Saturday, May 28; Stade Vélodrome, Marseille (17.45)
