Champions Cup & Challenge Cup play-offs: Dates and kick-off times confirmed
NEWS: European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) have announced the dates, venues and kick-off times for the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup Round of 16 matches.
In the Champions Cup, the elite clubs which have qualified for this season’s knockout stage have 26 EPCR titles between them, and eight former Champions Cup winners are in contention to lift the trophy again. Included are all three South African representatives with the Sharks, the Stormers and the Bulls booking their places in the business end of the tournament in impressive style.
What promises to be another thrilling set of Champions Cup knockout fixtures gets underway on Friday, March 31 when Leicester Tigers go head-to-head with Edinburgh at Welford Road.
The Sharks and the Stormers are both in action on April Fool’s Day (Saturday, April 1).
The Sharks are first up against Munster in Durban, before the Stormers take on Harlequins in Cape Town.
The Bulls are in action on Sunday, April 2 against Toulouse in France.
Interestingly, the Bulls and Sharks will meet each other in the quarterfinals if they win their Round of 16 matches.
The Stormers are on the other side of the draw and they can only meet a fellow South African team in the Final if they get that far.
The highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage have secured home advantage for the Round of 16 and this rule will remain in place for the quarterfinals.
The semifinals will be played in Europe at EPCR-designated venues with the showpiece final staged at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, May 20, and over 66 000 tickets have already been sold for the Dublin Finals weekend.
In the Challenge Cup, The Cheetahs and the Lions are both in action on Saturday, April 1.
The Cheetahs will face Toulon in France in their Round of 16 clash, while the Lions are at home against Racing 92.
See the dates and times for the Round of 16 matches below
CHAMPIONS CUP – Round of 16
(Pool stage rankings in brackets / All kick-offs local times)
Friday 31 March:
Match 5: Leicester Tigers (B4) v Edinburgh Rugby (A5), Welford Road (20.00)
Saturday 1 April:
Match 3: Sharks (A3) v Munster Rugby (B6), Kings Park (13.30)
Match 6: Stormers (B3) v Harlequins (A6), Cape Town Stadium (16.00)
Match 1: Leinster Rugby (A1) v Ulster Rugby (B8), Aviva Stadium (17.30)
Match 8: Stade Rochelais (B1) v Gloucester Rugby (A8), Stade Marcel Deflandre (18.30)
Sunday 2 April:
Match 2: Exeter Chiefs (A2) v Montpellier Hérault Rugby (B7), Sandy Park (12.30)
Match 4: Saracens (A4) v Ospreys (B5), StoneX Stadium (15.00)
Match 7: Stade Toulousain (B2) v Bulls (A7), Le Stadium (16.00)
Quarterfinals – 7/8/9 April:
QF 1: Winner Match 1 v Winner Match 5
QF 2: Winner Match 7 v Winner Match 3
QF 3: Winner Match 2 v Winner Match 6
QF 4: Winner Match 8 v Winner Match 4
NB The highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home advantage
Semifinals – 28/29/30 April:
SF 1: Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 2
SF 2: Winner QF 3 v Winner QF 4
NB The matches will be played in Europe and the highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home country advantage
2023 Champions Cup final: Saturday 20 May; Aviva Stadium, Dublin
EPCR CHALLENGE CUP – Round of 16
(Pool stage rankings in brackets/ All kick-offs local times)
Friday 31 March
Match 4: Bristol Bears (A4) v ASM Clermont Auvergne (HCC9), Ashton Gate (20.00)
Match 8: Scarlets (B1) v CA Brive (A6), Parc y Scarlets (20.00)
Saturday 1 April
Match 1: RC Toulon (A1) v Toyota Cheetahs (B6), Stade Félix Mayol (13.30)
Match 5: Stade Francais Paris (B4) v Lyon (HCC9), Stade Jean Bouin (16.00)
Match 7: Benetton Rugby (B2) v Connacht Rugby (A5), Stadio di Monigo (16.00)
Match 2: Glasgow Warriors (A2) v Dragons RFC (B5), Scotstoun (17.30)
Match 6: Emirates Lions (B3) v Racing 92 (HCC10), Ellis Park Park (18.30)
Match 3: Cardiff Rugby (A3) v Sale Sharks (HCC10), Cardiff Arms Park (20.00)
Quarterfinals – 7/8/9 April:
QF 1: Winner Match 1 v Winner Match 5
QF 2: Winner Match 7 v Winner Match 3
QF 3: Winner Match 2 v Winner Match 6
QF 4: Winner Match 8 v Winner Match 4
NB The highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home advantage
Semifinals – 28/29/30 April:
SF 1: winner QF 1 v winner QF 2
SF 2: winner QF 3 v winner QF 4
NB The matches will be played in Europe and the highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home venue advantage
2023 EPCR Challenge Cup final: Friday 19 May; Aviva Stadium, Dublin