First Heineken Cup quarter-final for Twickenham Stadium
A Heineken Cup quarter-final will be staged at Twickenham Stadium for the first time following confirmation by Saracens that their match against Ulster Rugby in the last eight of the world’s most competitive club rugby tournament will be played at the famous London venue on Saturday, 6 April.
Although the home of English rugby has staged eight Heineken Cup fixtures to date, including four finals, the clash of the innovative English club and last season’s finalists will be a new departure in Twickenham’s illustrious history.
With strong interest expected in the tie, the record attendance for a UK Heineken Cup quarter-final of 37,881 set at Murrayfield last season when Edinburgh Rugby defeated Toulouse, could be a target.
Saracens earned a home tie by virtue of winning a highly-competitive Pool 1 while Ulster, who will be aiming to go one better this time after losing to Leinster Rugby in the 2012 final at Twickenham, topped Pool 4.
Heineken Cup matches and attendances at Twickenham Stadium
2012 final: Leinster Rugby 42 Ulster Rugby 14 (81,774)
2009/10 pool stage: London Irish 11 Leinster Rugby 11 (37,323)
2008/09 pool stage: London Wasps 19 Leinster Rugby 12 (33,282)
2004/05 pool stage: Harlequins 10 Munster Rugby 18 (33,883)
2008 semi-final: London Irish 15 Toulouse 21 (30,559)
2007 final: Leicester Tigers 9 London Wasps 25 (81,076)
2004 final: London Wasps 27 Toulouse 20 (73,057)
2000 final: Northampton Saints 9 Munster Rugby 8 (68,441)
UK Heineken Cup quarter-final attendance record
2012 – Edinburgh Rugby v Toulouse, Murrayfield 37,881
Heineken Cup quarter-final attendance record
2011 – Perpignan v Toulon, Olympic Stadium (Barcelona) 55,000
Quarter-finals
(All kick-offs are local time)
Saturday, 6 April
ASM Clermont Auvergne v Montpellier, Stade Marcel Michelin 16.40
FR2/Sky Sports/Sky Italia
Saracens v Ulster Rugby, Twickenham Stadium 18.30
Sky Sports/Canal+/Sky Italia
Sunday, 7 April
Harlequins v Munster Rugby, Twickenham Stoop 14.00
Sky Sports/Canal+/Sky Italia
Toulon v Leicester Tigers, Venue TBC 17.30
FR2/Canal+/Sky Sports/Sky Italia
Semi-finals
Matches to be played on weekend of 26/27/28 April
The winner of the first-named quarter-final match in each semi-final pairing will have home country advantage.
Semi-final 1: Saracens or Ulster Rugby v Toulon or Leicester Tigers
Semi-final 2: ASM Clermont Auvergne or Montpellier v Harlequins or Munster Rugby
Heineken Cup final: Saturday, 18 May; Aviva Stadium, Dublin 17.00
