EPCR Announce Champions Cup Quarter-Final Dates And Venues
The Aviva Stadium will host the quarter-final between Leinster and Saracens. ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Following the postponement of the knockout stages of its tournaments due to the COVID-19 pandemic, EPCR is now pleased to announce the new dates, kick-off times and TV coverage for the Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup quarter-finals.
The 25th anniversary season of the Heineken Champions Cup will resume with what promises to be a monumental clash between the No 1-ranked Leinster Rugby and holders, Saracens, at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, 19 September live on BT Sport who will be broadcasting all four quarter-finals.
Immediately after the Leinster-Saracens confrontation, ASM Clermont Auvergne and Racing 92 will go head-to-head at Stade Marcel-Michelin where Clermont have only lost once in five top flight quarter-final matches, however, that defeat was at the hands of the Parisians in 2018.
Then on Sunday, 20 September, four-time winners, Toulouse, will be up against Ulster Rugby at the 33,000-capacity Le Stadium live and free-to-air on Channel 4 and Virgin Media followed by the meeting of No 2-ranked, Exeter Chiefs, and Northampton Saints at Sandy Park.
Eight former winners of EPCR’s tournaments – Clermont, Leicester Tigers, Leinster, Northampton Saints, RC Toulon, Saracens, Toulouse and Ulster – with as many as 24 titles between them, remain in contention for European silverware and the eagerly-anticipated quarter-finals weekend will kick off on Friday, 18 September with the Challenge Cup clash of No 2-ranked Bristol Bears and the Dragons at Ashton Gate live on BT Sport.
The following day, Bordeaux-Bègles are at home against Edinburgh Rugby and No 1-ranked, RC Toulon, take on Scarlets at Stade Chaban-Delmas at Stade Mayol respectively, with the Toulon-Scarlets tie also broadcast live in Wales on S4C.
The last of the Challenge Cup quarter-finals on Sunday, 20 September pits Leicester Tigers against Castres Olympique at Welford Road with live coverage again on BT Sport.
All matches will be subject to government guidelines and/or restrictions with EPCR prioritising the health and welfare of players, club staff, match officials, media, supporters and the wider rugby community.
Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals:
(All kick-offs local time)
Saturday 19 September
- QF 1: Leinster Rugby v Saracens, Aviva Stadium (15.00) BT Sport / beIN SPORTS
- QF 2: ASM Clermont Auvergne v Racing 92, Stade Marcel-Michelin (18.30) beIN SPORTS / BT Sport
Sunday 20 September
- QF 3: Toulouse v Ulster Rugby, Le Stadium (13.30) France 2 / beIN SPORTS / BT Sport / Channel 4 / Virgin Media
- QF 4: Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints, Sandy Park (17.30) BT Sport / beIN SPORTS
Heineken Champions Cup semi-finals:
- Semi-final 1 – winner of QF 1, Leinster Rugby v Saracens, will play the winner of QF 2, ASM Clermont Auvergne v Racing 92
- Semi-final 2 – winner of QF 3, Toulouse v Ulster Rugby, will play the winner of QF 4, Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints (Matches to be played on 25/26/27 September)
Heineken Champions Cup final:
- Weekend 16/17/18 October (venue TBC).