European Cup: Biarritz and Stade Francais have been given a deadline of February 11th to finalise their "home" venues for the Heineken European Cup quarter-final against Munster and Newcastle Falcons, respectively. Both clubs are keen to move to larger stadiums to maximise revenue from the matches.

Biarittz have been involved in a lengthy saga with fellow Basque, yet Spanish-based soccer club Real Sociedad to use the 32,000-capacity Stadio Aneota in San Sebastian. Stade want a move to Stade de France and are also in negotiations with Paris St Germain.

"Our official position is we stand back at this stage as this is Biarritz's and Stade Francais's quarter-final," explained ERC chief executive Derek McGrath. "They are the bodies that have to tell us where they are going. They would have to go, in the case of Biarittz, to talk to the French Federation."

McGrath is keen for both to move as it brings with it a bigger profile for the tournament and increased ticket sales. "If we push too hard the answer will be no. In France, the stadia are municipally owed so we have to give them a little bit of time."

McGrath was speaking at the ERC press conference in Dublin to announce a renewal of title sponsors Heineken for a further four years. The deal is expected to be in excess of €5 million per annum. The partnership between Heineken and ERC was first forged when the competition was launched in 1995.

However, the tournament will remain as the H Cup in France because of the countries loi evin law, which bans the promotion of alcohol on television.

Meanwhile, the Blackrock College academy (under-20s) play Biarritz academy tonight at Parc des Sports Aguilera in Biarritz. This is the venue Munster will have to visit if the proposed move to Spain falls through.

This is the second instalment in an annual event between the two clubs after the French side visited Stradbrook to coincided with their senior team's European pool fixture against Leinster last year.

Former Irish schools' captain Barry Gibney is joined on the coaching ticket by retired international scrumhalf Ciarán Scally, Thomas Gilmore and David Boyd.