Venues for European Champions Cup semi-finals confirmed

Aviva Stadium scheduled for last-four games should Leinster go through

Leinster’s James Lowe catches the ball to score a try. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho
Leinster’s James Lowe catches the ball to score a try. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho

Five venues are in line to stage a semi-final match of the European Champions Cup on the weekend of May 14th/15th, depending onthe results of the quarter-finals.

It has been agreed that for this season only, the semi-finals will be played at the chosen venues of the highest-ranked clubs.

If Leinster earn a last-four place against Stade Toulousain, that match will be scheduled for the 51,000-capacity Aviva Stadium .

Similarly, if Munster qualify to meet Leinster in a semi-final, then that match will also be staged at the Aviva Stadium as Thomond Park will be unavailable on the weekend, due to the holding of Ed Sheeran concerts at the ground the previous week.

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If Leicester Tigers win through from the quarter-finals, they will play either Munster or Stade Toulousain at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

If Racing 92 qualify, they will play either Stade Rochelais or Montpellier Hérault Rugby at the 38,000-capacity Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens as Paris La Défense will be unavailable on the Heineken Champions Cup semi-final weekend.

If Stade Rochelais come through to meet Sale Sharks, that match will be played at Stade Marcel-Deflandre, and if a semi-final happens to pit Sale Sharks against Montpellier Hérault Rugby, that match will go ahead at the AJ Bell Stadium.