Heineken Cup: Leinster and Munster are in line to meet at the semi-final stage of the Heineken Cup should both provinces win their respective matches against European champions Toulouse and Perpignan.
The news came after European Rugby Cup (ERC) chairman Jean-Pierre Lux and Heineken Cup ambassador Ieuan Evans made the semi-final draw at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff today.
Organisers of the Blue Riband event stipulate that both semi-finals must be played at neutral venues with a capacity in excess of 20,000 in the country of the team drawn at home.
Although Leinster gained the home draw, the provincial clash, should it arise, would always have been played at Lansdowne Road as no other rugby stadium in Ireland meets the 20,000 capacity.
But before supporters start getting ahead of themselves, Leinster face the daunting task of travelling to France to face three-times champions Toulouse. Munster, on the otherhand, will get a run out at IRFU headquarters when they take on Perpignan in their home quarter-final.
Should Trevor Brennan’s Toulouse overcome Leinster and Munster win through against Perpignan then Declan Kidney’s men would have to travel to France for the semi-final. A reverse results scenario would see Leinster host Perpignan at Lansdowne Road.
Meanwhile, Sale Sharks will set up an all-English semi-final against Leicester or Bath if they can beat Biarritz. The Guinness Premiership leaders and Biarritz were matched against the winners of the Welford Road clash. Biarritz, who have never reached the final, will play the Sharks in the 32,000 capacity Estadio Aoeta in San Sebastien, Spain.
All quarter-final ties are to be played over the weekend of March 31st-April 2nd. The semi-finals will be played on the weekend of April 22nd-23rd, with the final to be staged at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, May 20th at 3pm.
Heineken Cup
Quarter-final draw (denotes seedings)
Saturday, April 1st
12.30 Leicester Tigers v Bath Rugby
16.00 Toulouse v Leinster
17.30 Munster v Perpignan
Sunday, April 2nd
Biarritz Olympique v Sale Sharks
(All kick-offs LOCAL times)
Semi-final draw:
Biarritz or Sale v Leicester or Bath
Toulouse or Leinster v Munster or Perpignan
Ties to be played on April 21st, 22nd or 23rd
