Heineken Cup – We Know When, We Just Dont Know Where

The Heineken Cup semi-final between Munster and Castres will be played on Saturday 27th April at a venue in France which is as yet unknown. The other semi, between Leicester and Llanelli will be played the following day, Sunday, April 28th, again at a venue yet to be decided. A statement issued by ERC said.

‘European Rugby Cup officials have completed their review of possible venues for the Heineken Cup and Parker Pen Shield semi-finals on April 27/28 and will be holding final discussions with stadium officials early next week with a view to finalising arrangements.’

‘In the Heineken Cup, the game between Castres Olympique and Munster will be played on Saturday, April 27 at a venue in France. The game will be broadcast live on FR2 and RTE.’

The other semi-final, between holders Leicester Tigers and Llanelli, will be played on Sunday, April 28 and will be broadcast live by BBC Sunday Grandstand. ‘.

‘ In the Parker Pen Shield, the game between London Irish and Pontypridd will be played on Saturday, April 27, while the match between Gloucester and Sale Sharks will be played on Sunday, April 28.’

The posiblities for the Munster game are the Stade de la Mediterranee, a 17,600 capacity ground in the southern city of Beziers or the 40,000 municipal ground in Lyon.

The ground spoken most favourably of for the Leicester game is The City Ground in Nottingham, home to English Division One side Nottingham Forest.