Semi-final venues confirm route to Dublin
Stade de la Mosson in Montpellier will stage a first Heineken Cup semi-final with the winners of the ASM Clermont Auvergne v Montpellier quarter-final meeting the winners of the Harlequins v Munster Rugby tie at the 32,000-capacity stadium in France’s Languedoc region.
The first of the 2012/13 tournament semi-finals will take place on Saturday, 27 April with the second match scheduled for Sunday, 28 April at either Twickenham Stadium or the Aviva Stadium following today’s (Monday, 1 April) announcement of the dates and venues of the games in the last four.
If Saracens defeat Ulster Rugby in their quarter-final, then they will meet the winners of the Toulon v Leicester Tigers at Twickenham, however, if Ulster win through, the semi-final will be played at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
The Heineken Cup semi-finals are played at venues designated by ERC and the clubs who will secure home country advantage in the last four were determined by a draw which was conducted in January following the conclusion of the tournament pool stage.
With the knockout stage of the tournament set to dominate the European rugby landscape when the four quarter-finals are decided this weekend, the road to the 2013 Heineken Cup final at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, 18 May is now clearer.
Details of ticket sales for the two high-profile matches will be available on ercrugby.com later in the week.
Heineken Cup semi-finals
(Kick-offs local time)
Saturday, 27 April
ASM Clermont Auvergne or Montpellier v Harlequins or Munster Rugby
Stade de la Mosson (capacity : 32,000) 18.00
Sunday, 28 April
*Saracens or Ulster Rugby v Toulon or Leicester Tigers
Twickenham Stadium or Aviva Stadium 15.00
*If Saracens qualify, the semi-final will be played at Twickenham Stadium (capacity 82,000); if Ulster Rugby qualify, the semi-final will be played at the Aviva Stadium (capacity: 51,000)
Heineken Cup final – Saturday, 18 May; Aviva Stadium 17.00
