Champions Cup semi-final venues revealed

The possible semi-final venues have been confirmed for the Champions Cup semi-finals, which will take place over the April 21/22 weekend.

As the elite of the European club game readies itself for another highly-charged weekend of knockout rugby, Dublin’s Aviva Stadium and the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, as well as three French stadiums – Saint-Etienne’s Stade Geoffroy Guichard, the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice and Stade Chaban-Delmas in Bordeaux – have been chosen as the venues which are in line to host the European fixtures. 

If Scarlets manage to defeat La Rochelle in the first of the Champions Cup quarter-finals on Friday, they will travel to play either number one-ranked Leinster Rugby at the Aviva Stadium, or holders Saracens at the Ricoh Arena.

However, if Champions Cup debutants, La Rochelle, emerge victorious, they will earn home country advantage and will meet the winners of Sunday’s Leinster v Saracens tie at Stade Chaban-Delmas.

If Munster get the better of Toulon on Saturday, they will travel to France to play either Clermont at Stade Geoffroy Guichard or Racing 92 at Stade Chaban-Delmas.

But if Toulon win in Limerick, they will have home country advantage at the Allianz Riviera Stadium against the winners of Sunday's Clermont v Racing 92 quarter-final.

The format for the semi-final matches in the Champions Cup recognises performances by clubs during the pool stage as well as the achievement of winning a quarter-final match away from home. 

The Champions Cup semi-finals are played at venues designated by EPCR which have been selected in this instance in conjunction with the Irish Rugby Football Union, Premiership Rugby and the Ligue Nationale de Rugby. 

Champions Cup semi-finals – 21/22 April

SF 1: if Leinster Rugby v Scarlets – Aviva Stadium (Dublin)
SF 1: if Saracens v Scarlets – Ricoh Arena (Coventry)
SF 1: if La Rochelle v Leinster Rugby – Stade Chaban-Delmas (Bordeaux)
SF 1: if La Rochelle v Saracens – Stade Chaban-Delmas (Bordeaux)

SF 2: if ASM Clermont Auvergne v Munster Rugby – Stade Geoffroy Guichard (Saint-Etienne)
SF 2: if Racing 92 v Munster Rugby – Stade Chaban-Delmas (Bordeaux)
SF 2: if RC Toulon v ASM Clermont Auvergne – Alllianz Riviera Stadium (Nice)
SF 2: if RC Toulon v Racing 92 – Allianz Riviera Stadium (Nice)

2018 Champions Cup final: Saturday, 12 May; San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao (17.45)