Leinster will face Harlequins in Croke Park on Saturday, April 5th in the first of the Irish games in the Champions Cup Round of 16. Leinster’s game against the Premiership club kicks off at 3pm in the only Irish club match being staged in Ireland.
Harlequins are hoping to progress beyond the Round of 16 for just the second time with Leinster aiming for their fifth victory in the competition. Coach Leo Cullen will be wary of the London side after they caused an upset last season when they knocked out the fancied Bordeaux-Bègles in the quarter-finals.
Munster continue their run in the competition in France against Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle later the same day at 5.30pm Irish time in Stade Marcel Deflandre.
Are Leinster and Toulouse destined for another European final?
Ulster, who ended their pool one phase in fourth place, are also in France on Sunday, April 6th against Bordeaux-Bègles, who finished top of the pool, edging out Toulouse. Both French clubs finished the pool phase with four wins from four. Richie Murphy takes his side to Stade Chaban-Delmas, where they kick-off at 12.30pm Irish time. Ulster qualified for the knock-out phase in 16th place, Munster in ninth and Leinster second.
The weekend action gets under way on Friday, April 4th at Franklin’s Gardens, where Northampton welcome Clermont Auvergne for an 8.0pm start. The French side are looking to build on their win against Bristol Bears to secure their place in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Connacht will play host to Cardiff in the Challenge Cup Round of 16 at Dexcom Stadium in Galway on Saturday, April 5th, with an 8pm kick-off.
Investec Champions Cup Round of 16 (all kick-off times Irish)
Friday, April 4th
Match 3: Northampton v Clermont Auvergne, Franklin’s Gardens, 8.0
Saturday, April 5th
Match 4: Toulon v Saracens, Stade Félix Mayol, 12.30
Match 2: Leinster v Harlequins, Croke Park, 3.0 (RTÉ)
Match 6: Castres v Benetton, Stade Pierre-Fabre, 3.0
Match 8: La Rochelle v Munster, Stade Marcel Deflandre, 5.30
Match 7: Glasgow v Leicester, Scotstoun, 8.0
Sunday, April 6th
Match 1: Bordeaux-Bègles v Ulster, Stade Chaban-Delmas, 12.30
Match 5: Toulouse v Sale, Stadium Municipal, 3.0
Quarter-finals (April 11th-13th)
QF 1: Winner R16 1 v Winner R16 8
QF 2: Winner R16 2 v Winner R16 7
QF 3: Winner R16 3 v Winner R16 6
QF 4: Winner R16 4 v Winner R16 5
NB The highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home venue advantage
Semi-finals (May 2nd-4th)
Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 4
Winner QF 2 v Winner QF 3
NB The matches will be played in Europe and where relevant the highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home country advantage
Champions Cup Final
Saturday, May 24th, Principality Stadium, Cardiff, 2.45
Challenge Cup Round of 16
Saturday, April 5th
Connacht v Cardiff, Dexcom Stadium, 8.0
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