European Champions Cup final too soon, admits EPCR chief

European rugby officials have admitted that the final next week at Twickenham has been scheduled too soon – two weeks – after the semi-finals of the competition and they have made plans to alter its date next season.

The final will be an all-French affair between Toulon and Clermont Auvergne and is the earliest European final in the season since 1999, apparently at the behest of the French clubs in the first season of the competition being run by a new body.

However, there are fears that the attendance will be below the past two all-French finals played outside France (51,326 at Murrayf…