The organisers of the Heineken Cup have shortlisted Lansdowne Road, Villa Park and Le Stadium de Toulouse as potential venues for the tournament's semi-finals.
The stadia have been deemed suitable whatever the outcome of the four quarter-final matches and have been selected because of their ability to service any of the outcomes of the four quarter-final ties which have yet to be played between April 11th-13th.
European Rugby Cup chairman Jean-Pierre Lux said: "The prime considerations of a semi-final venue are to accommodate a crowd in excess of 20,000, a city to cater in all aspects - particularly ease of access and accommodation - for the influx of thousands of fans while allowing those travelling supporters the opportunity to plan their trips well in advance".
ERC chief executive Derek McGrath added: "We have chosen three prestigious stadiums for the semi-finals and we have set out to do this well in advance of the actual matches because we have so little planning time - just two weeks - between the quarter-finals and the semis".
Draw for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals:
Friday, April 11th: Llanelli v Perpignan 7.30 p.m.
Saturday, April 12th: Toulouse v Northampton 1.45 p.m.
Leinsterv Biarritz 3.35 p.m.
Sunday, April 13th: Leicester v
Munster4 p.m.
Draw for the semi-finals: Toulouse or Northampton v Leicester or
Munster
Leinsteror Biarritz v Llanelli or Perpignan.