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Exact dates, venues and kick-off times confirmed for Champions Cup round of 16
By Sam Smith
Exeter Chiefs will continue the defence of their Heineken Champions Cup title when they host Lyon at Sandy Park on Saturday, April 3, following the announcement of the exact dates, venues, kick-off times and TV coverage in the round of 16 of the 2020/21 tournament.
Exeter’s clash with the Top 14 club, who have reached the knockout stage for the first time, will be part of BT Sport’s comprehensive live coverage of all eight high-profile fixtures with the showdown between Wasps and three-time finalists Clermont at the Ricoh Arena broadcast live and free-to-air in the UK and Ireland on Channel 4 and Virgin Media also on Saturday, April 3.
On the same day, Thomond Park will be the venue for the eagerly-awaited confrontation between European heavyweights Munster (who will lose the retiring CJ Stander at the end of the season) and Toulouse, while last season’s defeated finalists Racing 92 will take on Edinburgh at Paris La Defense Arena on Sunday, April 4.
Also on the same Sunday, last season’s Challenge Cup winners, Bristol Bears will be in action against Bordeaux-Bègles at Stade Chaban-Delmas with Scarlets flying the flag for the Welsh regions against Sale Sharks at Parc y Scarlets.
The round of 16 will kick off on Friday, April 2, with Leinster and Toulon going head-to-head at the RDS Arena followed by the meeting of Gloucester and La Rochelle at Kingsholm. That round-starting game in Dublin will come just six days after Leinster host Munster in the final of the Guinness PRO14.
The European quarter-finals will be played on the weekend of April 9/10/11 and the exact dates and kick-off times for the matches will be announced as soon as practicable.
ROUND OF 16 (All kick-off times are local)
Friday, April 2
Leinster Rugby v RC Toulon – RDS Arena (17.30)
BT Sport / beIN SPORTS
Gloucester Rugby v La Rochelle – Kingsholm (20.00)
BT Sport / beIN SPORTS
Saturday, April 3
Wasps v ASM Clermont Auvergne – Ricoh Arena (12.30)
C4 / Virgin Media / BT Sport / beIN SPORTS
Munster Rugby v Toulouse – Thomond Park (15.00)
BT Sport / beIN SPORTS / FR 2
Exeter Chiefs v Lyon – Sandy Park (17.30)
BT Sport / beIN SPORTS
Sunday, April 4
Racing 92 v Edinburgh Rugby – Paris La Défense Arena (13.30)
beIN SPORTS / BT Sport
Bordeaux-Bègles v Bristol Bears – Stade Chaban-Delmas (16.00)
FR 2 / beIN SPORTS / BT Sport
Scarlets v Sale Sharks – Parc y Scarlets (17.30)
BT Sport / beIN SPORTS
*Fixtures subject to approval by authorities in the relevant territories
Quarter-finals
(Weekend April 9/10/11 – first-named winners at home)
Winner Exeter Chiefs/Lyon v Winner Leinster/RC Toulon
Winner Wasps/Clermont v Winner Munster/Toulouse
Winner Gloucester/La Rochelle v Winner Scarlets/Sale Sharks
Winner Bordeaux-Bègles/Bristol Bears v Winner Racing 92/Edinburgh
Semi-finals: April 30/May 1/2
Heineken Champions Cup final: Saturday, May 22
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Latest Comments
Does anyone know a way to loook at how many mins each player has played whilst on tour?
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
Go to comments