Euro Cup play-off dates & times confirmed
With five English team advancing to the last eight, it is no surprise that three of the four quarterfinal matches will take place in England.
The quarterfinals kick-off on Saturday, April 9 with Wasps, the last Premiership club to win the coveted title in 2007, taking on the Exeter Chiefs at the Ricoh Arena.
That clash of the two-time champions against the first-timers in the knockout stage will be followed by the meeting of No.1 seeds Saracens, who have reached the last eight for the fifth season in a row, and Northampton Saints at Allianz Park.
On Sunday, April 10, Leicester Tigers host Stade Francais Paris at Welford Road in what promises to be another classic Anglo-French contest. Tigers have booked their ticket to the quarterfinals for the 13th time – two behind the record held jointly by Toulouse and Munster – while Stade are appearing in the last eight for the first time since 2010.
The road to Lyon will be clearer when Racing 92 and reigning champions, Toulon, meet at Stade Yves-du-Manoir in an all-French confrontation which could see recent World Cup winners, Dan Carter and Ma'a Nonu going head-to-head.
A major weekend of knockout rugby will commence with the first of the Challenge Cup quarterfinals between Sale Sharks and Montpellier at the AJ Bell Stadium on Friday, April 8, with holders Gloucester, who are on a record run of 15 victories in the tournament, up against the Newport Gwent Dragons at Kingsholm the following day.
European Rugby Champions Cup quarterfinals (All kick-offs local time):
Saturday, April 9
Wasps v Exeter Chiefs
Venue: Ricoh Arena, Coventry
Kick-off: 15.15
Saracens v Northampton Saints
Venue: Allianz Park, London
Kick-off: 17.45
Sunday 10 April
Leicester Tigers v Stade Francais Paris
Venue: Welford Road, Leicester
Kick-off: 13.45
Racing 92 v RC Toulon
Venue: Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Paris
Kick-off: 17.15
Semifinal 1: Saracens or Northampton Saints v Wasps or Exeter Chiefs
Semifinal 2: Racing 92 or RC Toulon v Leicester Tigers or Stade Francais Paris
(Matches to be played on 23/24 April)
Champions Cup final: Saturday, May 14
Venue: Grand Stade de Lyon, Lyon
Kick-off: 17.45
European Rugby Challenge Cup quarterfinals (All kick-offs local time):
Friday, April 8
Sale Sharks v Montpellier
Venue: AJ Bell Stadium, Manchester
Kick-off: 19.45
Saturday 9 April
Gloucester Rugby v Newport Gwent Dragons
Venue: Kingsholm, Gloucester
Kick-off: 12.45
Harlequins v London Irish,
Venue: Twickenham Stoop, London
Kick-off: 20.05
Grenoble v Connacht Rugby
Venue: Stade des Alpes, Grenoble
Kick-off: 21.05
Semifinal 1: Harlequins or London Irish v Grenoble or Connacht Rugby
Semifinal 2: Sale Sharks or Montpellier v Gloucester Rugby or Newport Gwent Dragons
(Matches to be played on 22/23/24 April)
Challenge Cup Final: Friday, May 13
Venue: Grand Stade de Lyon, Lyon
Kick-off: 21.00
