Rugby:ERC has today confirmed the venues and dates for the Heineken Cup semi-finals. The winners of Sunday's all-Irish provincial clash between Munster and Ulster will play their semi-final at the 50,000-capacity Aviva Stadium on Saturday, April 28th.
They will face the winners of the competition’s opening quarter-final between Edinburgh Rugby and four-time champions, Toulouse. If English champions, Saracens, come through Sunday’s much anticipated contest with ASM Clermont Auvergne, they will meet the winners of the Leinster v Cardiff Blues game in the semi-final at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday, April 29th.
However, if Clermont defeat Saracens, they will take on either the defending champions Leinster or Cardiff Blues in Bordeaux at Stade Chaban-Delmas.
The Aviva Stadium hosted last season’s Heineken Cup semi-final between Leinster and Toulouse, while two tournament semi-finals have been played at Stade Chaban-Delmas: Toulouse v Munster in 2000 and Toulouse v Biarritz Olympique in 2004.
Twickenham, which will stage this season’s Heineken Cup final on May 19th, has hosted one semi-final to date when London Irish met Toulouse in 2008.
HEINEKEN CUP SEMI-FINALS
Saturday, April 28th:Munster or Ulster v Edinburgh or Toulouse, Aviva Stadium.
Sunday, April 29th:Saracens or ASM Clermont Auvergne v Leinster or Cardiff Blues, Twickenham or Stade Chaban Delmas, Bordeaux (capacity: 34,000).
Saturday, May 19th:Heineken Cup final, Twickenham (5.0pm)
The kick-off times for the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup semi-finals will be announced following this weekend’s matches
Tickets for the games will go on sale through the participating clubs this weekend with additional tickets expected to be available for public sale.
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