Edinburgh to host 2017 European Cup Final

Next season's tournaments will kick off with two rounds in October, followed by Rounds Three and Four in December, and as is customary, the pool stages will reach their conclusion with Rounds Five and Six in January.

The quarterfinal matches will be staged at the end of March and the beginning of April, 2017, with the semifinals played three weeks later.

European club rugby's showcase weekend will then return to Edinburgh for the first time since 2009 – when both the Challenge Cup and Champions Cup finals will be held at Murrayfield.

Nineteen clubs will qualify on merit for next season's Champions Cup from the English Premiership (six qualifiers), the Pro12 (seven qualifiers including at least one club from each of Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales) and the French Top14 (six qualifiers).

The 20th place will go to the winner of the Challenge Cup and if the Challenge Cup winner is already qualified, that club will earn a place for the highest-ranked club from its league which has not already qualified.

The remaining 18 clubs from the English Premiership, the Celtic League and the Top14 which have not qualified for the Champions Cup will play in the 2016/17 Challenge Cup.

The 19th and 20th places will go to the two winners of the Challenge Cup qualifying competition.

Schedule

Round One: October 13/14/15/16

Round Two: October 19/20/21/22

Round Three: December 10/11/12/13

Round Four: December 17/18/19/20

Round Five: January 12/13/14/15

Round Six: January 19/20/21/22

Quarterfinals: March 30/31, April 1/2

Semifinals: April 21/22/23

Finals at Murrayfield, Edinburgh: Challenge Cup final, May 12; European Rugby Champions Cup final, May 13

Agence France-Presse