Leinster avoid Good Friday Champions Cup quarter-final

Mick Dawson, the Leinster ceo, has avoided his Good Friday quarter-final kickoff in the European Champions Cup. Leinster face Bath in the first of the quarter-finals on Saturday April 4th in Aviva Stadium at 3.15pm.

Dawson had previously said the province would prefer if the match was not scheduled for Good Friday but Connacht will play their last-eight clash in the Challenge Cup on Friday 3rd when Pat Lam’s side meet Gloucester at Kingsholm Stadium

When the three-time champions Leinster last played a quarter-final in Europe’s top competition at the Aviva Stadium in 2012 - defeating Cardiff Blues 34-3 before going on to retain the trophy - the 50,340 attendance was the second-highest for a last eight match in the tournament’s history - bested only by the 55,000 that turned out to see Perpignan versus Toulon in Barcelona in 2011.

Bath, who along with Wasps became the first club to qualify for the quarter-finals after losing their opening two pool games, will be fully aware of the task in Dublin.

Leinster have won all three of their matches staged at the Aviva in the tournament knockout phase. The winner in Dublin will meet either Toulon or Wasps.

The second quarter-final pitches Clermont against Northampton in an evening kick-off on Saturday, with Sunday hosting a double bill with Racing Metro against Saracens in Stade Yves-Du-Manoir and another Anglo-French clash as Toulon face Premiership side Wasps in Stade Felix Mayol.

All eight of EPCR’s quarter-finals will be broadcast live with the coverage shared by BT Sport, Sky Sports, beIN Sports and France Télévisions.

European Rugby Champions Cup quarter-finals

(All kick-offs local time)

Saturday, April 4th

Leinster Rugby v Bath Rugby, Aviva Stadium (15.15) BT Sport, beIN Sports

ASM Clermont Auvergne v Northampton Saints (17.45) beIN Sports, Sky Sports

Sunday, April 5th

Racing Metro 92 v Saracens, Stade Yves-Du-Manoir (12.45) beIN Sports, BT Sport

RC Toulon v Wasps, Stade Félix Mayol (15.15) FR2, Sky Sports, beIN Sports

Semi-final 1: RC Toulon or Wasps v Leinster Rugby or Bath Rugby

Semi-final 2: ASM Clermont Auvergne or Northampton Saints v Racing Metro 92 or Saracens

(Matches to be played on 17/18/19 April)

Champions Cup final: Saturday, May 2nd, Twickenham Stadium (17.00)

European Rugby Challenge Cup quarter-finals

Friday, April 3rd

Gloucester Rugby v Connacht Rugby, Kingsholm Stadium (19.45) Sky Sports, beIN Sports

Saturday, April 4th

Newport Gwent Dragons v Cardiff Blues, Rodney Parade (12.45) BT Sport, beIN Sports

Exeter Chiefs v Newcastle Falcons, Sandy Park Stadium (20.00) Sky Sports, beIN Sports

Sunday, April 5th

London Irish v Edinburgh Rugby, Madejski Stadium (17.45) BT Sport, FR4, beIN Sports

Semi-final 1: Gloucester Rugby or Connacht Rugby v Exeter Chiefs or Newcastle Falcons

Semi-final 2: London Irish or Edinburgh Rugby v Newport Gwent Dragons or Cardiff Blues

(Matches to be played on 17/18/19 April)