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Dates Confirmed for Heineken Cup

Dates Confirmed for Heineken Cup

The dates for the Heinken Cup quarter finals have been confirmed. Leinster have kept to their ‘new’ traditional kick off time of 5.15pm on Saturday, April 2nd against the Pool 1 runners-up Leicester.

The dates for the Heinken Cup quarter finals have been confirmed. Leinster have kept to their ‘new’ traditional kick-off time of 5.15pm on Saturday, April 2nd against the Pool 1 runners-up Leicester.

Although the venues for these games are yet to be confirmed by the ERC, Lansdowne Road will again be the venue for what will be a huge occassion.

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While Leinster will be able to enjoy the home comforts, the Munster fans will again have to pack their bags as they were pipped by Biarritz Olympique for the home quarter final.

Instead of a possible Lansdowne date, Munster are now travelling to the south of France to play on Sunday, April 3rd against a Biarritz side that knocked out defending champions Wasps, courtesy of an 18-15 home win.

There is some discussion that Biarritz may try to move the game over the border to Spain to the Estadio Anoeta in San Sebastian.

The 32,000-capacity stadium would be able to accomdate the level of interest in the game better then the 12,667 limit in Biarritz’s own Parc des Sports Aguilera, but this has yet to be confirmed.

Wherever the game is played, you can guarantee that the Munster fans will travel in great numbers.

In the European Challenge Cup, Connacht’s two-legged quarter-final victory over Grenoble means another date with a Zurich Premiership side in the last four.

After their narrow 49-45 aggregate loss to Harlequins last year at this stage, Michael Bradley’s charges will take on the Manchester-based Sale Sharks this time around.

The westerners will have home advantage in the first leg, after Sale were originally drawn to have home advantage.

Due to the unavailability of their stadium – Edgeley Park – for the fixture and, following consultation with Connacht, the fixtures were reversed. Both semi-final ties will be screened by Sky Sports.

2004/05 HEINEKEN CUP QUARTER-FINALS:
(All kick-off times GMT)

Friday, April 1:
Toulouse v Northampton Saints, 7.30pm (Sport+ / Sky Sports)

Saturday, April 2:
Stade Francais v Newcastle Falcons, 3.00pm (FR2 / Sky Sports)
Leinster v Leicester Tigers, 5.15pm (RTE / Sky Sports)

Sunday, April 3rd:
Biarritz Olympique v Munster, 3.00pm (Sport+ / Sky Sports / RTE)

2004/05 EUROPEAN CHALLENGE CUP SEMI-FINALS:
(All kick-off times GMT)

FIRST LEG:
Saturday, April 2nd:
Connacht v Sale Sharks, 2.00pm (Sky Sports)

Sunday, April 3rd:
Pau v Brive, 1.00pm (Sport+)

SECOND LEG:
Saturday, April 23rd:
Sunday, April 24th:
Sale Sharks v Connacht, 1.00pm (Sky Sports)