Leinster and Munster will play their Heineken European Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, April 12th, and Sunday, April 13th, respectively following yesterday's announcement by European Rugby Cup Ltd (ERC), the tournament organisers. John O'Sullivan reports.
Matt Williams had been hoping that Leinster would be handed a Sunday game at home to Biarritz, but instead they now face the French champions on Saturday (3.30).
No decision has yet been made on a venue, although it seems likely that the financial incentive of staging the match at Lansdowne Road rather than the 7,000 capacity Donnybrook will hold sway.
Williams and the Leinster Branch will first meet, and then discuss the matter with the IRFU and a decision should be made early next week. The match will be screened live by RTÉ television.
Munster's trip to Welford Road (although the venue is not yet agreed) to face the two-time defending champions Leicester was expected to be on the Saturday, as it was the preferred option for BBC television. But they will now transmit it on their Sunday Grandstand programme with a 4.0 p.m. kick-off.
Coach Alan Gaffney was not displeased by Munster's Sunday schedule as it would give him an extra day with the squad in what will be a small window to prepare for the quarter-final.
"We don't get the players back until after the Six Nations Championship about April 2nd, so that extra day could be a bit of a bonus. We celebrated on the night of the Gloucester game, but now it's time to concentrate on the Celtic League final, and in fairness the players know that."
The Munster game will also be shown live by RTÉ. Llanelli's clash with Perpignan will take place at Stradey Park (7.30) on Friday, April 11th, with the Toulouse-Northampton match scheduled for the Saturday at 1.45 p.m.
The quarter-final venues will be announced in the coming weeks.
The draw for the semi-finals of the European Cup, which will be played on April 26th-27th, will take place on Monday in order for suitable 20,000-plus venues to be found.
The draw will be made by ERC chairman Jean-Pierre Lux and Lions and Wales legend Ray Gravell. Among those attending will be Austin Healey (Leicester Tigers and double European Cup winner), Gareth Jenkins and Scott Quinnell (Llanelli coach and Lions and Wales number eight respectively), Paul O'Connell (Munster and Ireland international lock), Christian Warner (Leinster Lions outhalf), Trevor Brennan (Toulouse and Ireland back row forward), Marcel Martin (Biarritz Olympique president), Alejandro Moreno (Perpignan and Italian international prop) and a player from Northampton Saints.
The draw can be heard live on the official ERC website ercrugby.com. Those tuning in to the draw can enter to win tickets for quarter-final matches.
Meanwhile, Brian O'Driscoll will fly to London tomorrow as one of five contenders for the IRB Player of the Year award. It will be difficult to ignore Ireland's new captain following a strong finish to a good year.
First he will attend Leinster's open day at Anglesea Road tomorrow, and parents are encouraged to bring their children along to have them photographed with the players and also collect autographs.
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