Mick Dawson, the Leinster ceo, has avoided his Good Friday quarter-final kickoff in the European Champions Cup. Leinster face Bath in the first of the quarter-finals on Saturday April 4th in Aviva Stadium at 3.15pm.
Dawson had previously said the province would prefer if the match was not scheduled for Good Friday but Connacht will play their last-eight clash in the Challenge Cup on Friday 3rd when Pat Lam’s side meet Gloucester at Kingsholm Stadium
When the three-time champions Leinster last played a quarter-final in Europe’s top competition at the Aviva Stadium in 2012 - defeating Cardiff Blues 34-3 before going on to retain the trophy - the 50,340 attendance was the second-highest for a last eight match in the tournament’s history - bested only by the 55,000 that turned out to see Perpignan versus Toulon in Barcelona in 2011.
Bath, who along with Wasps became the first club to qualify for the quarter-finals after losing their opening two pool games, will be fully aware of the task in Dublin.
Leinster have won all three of their matches staged at the Aviva in the tournament knockout phase. The winner in Dublin will meet either Toulon or Wasps.
The second quarter-final pitches Clermont against Northampton in an evening kick-off on Saturday, with Sunday hosting a double bill with Racing Metro against Saracens in Stade Yves-Du-Manoir and another Anglo-French clash as Toulon face Premiership side Wasps in Stade Felix Mayol.
All eight of EPCR’s quarter-finals will be broadcast live with the coverage shared by BT Sport, Sky Sports, beIN Sports and France Télévisions.
European Rugby Champions Cup quarter-finals
(All kick-offs local time)
Saturday, April 4th
Leinster Rugby v Bath Rugby, Aviva Stadium (15.15) BT Sport, beIN Sports
ASM Clermont Auvergne v Northampton Saints (17.45) beIN Sports, Sky Sports
Sunday, April 5th
Racing Metro 92 v Saracens, Stade Yves-Du-Manoir (12.45) beIN Sports, BT Sport
RC Toulon v Wasps, Stade Félix Mayol (15.15) FR2, Sky Sports, beIN Sports
Semi-final 1: RC Toulon or Wasps v Leinster Rugby or Bath Rugby
Semi-final 2: ASM Clermont Auvergne or Northampton Saints v Racing Metro 92 or Saracens
(Matches to be played on 17/18/19 April)
Champions Cup final: Saturday, May 2nd, Twickenham Stadium (17.00)
European Rugby Challenge Cup quarter-finals
Friday, April 3rd
Gloucester Rugby v Connacht Rugby, Kingsholm Stadium (19.45) Sky Sports, beIN Sports
Saturday, April 4th
Newport Gwent Dragons v Cardiff Blues, Rodney Parade (12.45) BT Sport, beIN Sports
Exeter Chiefs v Newcastle Falcons, Sandy Park Stadium (20.00) Sky Sports, beIN Sports
Sunday, April 5th
London Irish v Edinburgh Rugby, Madejski Stadium (17.45) BT Sport, FR4, beIN Sports
Semi-final 1: Gloucester Rugby or Connacht Rugby v Exeter Chiefs or Newcastle Falcons
Semi-final 2: London Irish or Edinburgh Rugby v Newport Gwent Dragons or Cardiff Blues
(Matches to be played on 17/18/19 April)
