Croke Park is set for a first club rugby game since 2009 if Leinster make the Investec Champions Cup semi-final.
The EPCR confirmed a possible return to Dublin’s iconic Croke Park if Leinster secure home country advantage for their semi-final.
Croke Park last staged a club rugby match 15-years ago. When Leinster defeated Munster in a legendary 2009 Heineken Cup semi-final, a then world record attendance for a club match.
Europa League Final rules Aviva Stadium out
The Aviva Stadium is unavailable for the semi-finals due to preparations for the UEFA Europa League final.
Number two-ranked Leinster will play either Northampton Saints or the Vodacom Bulls at Croke Park on the weekend of 4/5 May if they manage to defeat holders, Stade Rochelais, in Saturday’s quarter-final.
If number one-ranked Stade Toulousain qualify for the last four, they will play either Union Bordeaux-Bègles or Harlequins at Le Stadium in Toulouse.
If third-ranked Northampton Saints qualify with home country advantage. They will play Stade Rochelais at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes.
Whereas, if fourth-ranked Union Bordeaux-Bègles also qualify with home country advantage, they will take on the Exeter Chiefs at Matmut ATLANTIQUE in Bordeaux.
If Harlequins qualify to meet the Exeter Chiefs, the match will be staged at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol. Whereas, if the Vodacom Bulls book a semi-final place against Stade Rochelais; A UK venue for that fixture will be announced; pending results from this weekend’s quarter-finals.
The clubs with the highest rankings from the tournament’s pool stage will earn home country advantage for the semi-finals.
The exact dates, venues and kick-off times will be announced once the quarter-finals are a complete.
The Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup season reaches its climax at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 May.
Possible Investec Champions Cup semi-final venues – 3/4/5 May (Pool stage rankings in brackets)
- Stade Toulousain (1) v Union Bordeaux-Bègles (4) or Harlequins (5) – Le Stadium, Toulouse (capacity: 33,150).
- Leinster Rugby (2) v Northampton Saints (3) or Vodacom Bulls (6) – Croke Park, Dublin (capacity: 82,300).
- Northampton Saints (3) v Stade Rochelais (10) – Stadium MK, Milton Keynes (capacity: 30,500).
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles (4) v Exeter Chiefs (8) - Matmut ATLANTIQUE, Bordeaux (capacity: 42,100).
- Harlequins (5) v Exeter Chiefs (8) – Ashton Gate Stadium (capacity: 27,000).
- Vodacom Bulls (6) v Stade Rochelais (10) – UK venue TBC
