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Investec Champions Cup

Potential Champions Cup semi-final venues confirmed

By Neil Fissler

40 days ago

BORDEAUX, FRANCE - APRIL 30: A general view of the Stade Matmut Atlantique during the Heineken Cup Champions Cup semi final match between La Rochelle and Exeter Chiefs at Stade Matmut Atlantique on April 30, 2023 in Bordeaux, France. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

EPCR have confirmed the four venues that could be used to host the semi-finals for the Investec Champions Cup next month.

Which of the four selected venues – two in France, one in Ireland and one in England – will be used will depend on which club progresses with home country advantage from this weekend’s quarter-finals.

The four venues are Bordeaux’s Matmut ATLANTIQUE, Lyon’s Matmut Stadium de Gerland, Dublin’s Aviva Stadium and Milton Keynes’ Stadium MK.

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The 42,115-seated Matmut ATLANTIQUE, which opened in May 2015, is the home of Championnat National 2 club FC Girondins de Bordeaux. Its record crowd was 42,071 for a match between Toulouse and La Rochelle in June 2019.

Lyon’s iconic Matmut Stadium de Gerland, opened in 1926 and renovated in 2017, is the home of Top 14 outfit LOU Lyon and can seat just over 35,000.

Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, which has a seated capacity of 51,700 and is home to Leinster, the Irish rugby team, and the Republic of Ireland’s football team, was completely rebuilt between 2007 and 2010.

Milton Keynes’ Stadium MK first hosted rugby in 2008 when Saracens played Bristol there as their normal home ground, Vicarage Road, was unavailable because of an EFL Championship play-off semi-final.

Fixture

Investec Champions Cup

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A venue for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, it was also used by Northampton Saints to host Saracens in April 2015 before a record 27,411 crowd.

Last year’s semi-finals between Leinster and Saints at Dublin’s Croke Park and Toulouse vs Harlequins at Le Stadium in Toulouse saw unprecedented demand for tickets, with over 115,000 snapped up in under 24 hours.

The quarter-finals will kick off on Friday evening when Leinster host Glasgow Warriors at the Aviva Stadium while on Saturday Bordeaux-Begles entertain Munster at the Stade Chaban Delmas.

Also, on Saturday, Northampton host Castres at Franklin’s Gardens, and the fourth final tie will be on Sunday when Toulouse travels to the Stade Felix Mayol to face Toulon.

Possible Investec Champions Cup semi-final matches and venues – 2/3/4 May
(pool stage rankings in brackets):

Union Bordeaux-Bègles (1) v RC Toulon (4) or Stade Toulousain (5) – Matmut ATLANTIQUE, Bordeaux (capacity: 42,100)
Leinster Rugby (2) v Northampton Saints (3) or Castres Olympique (6) – Aviva Stadium, Dublin (capacity: 51,700)
Northampton Saints (3) v Glasgow Warriors (7) – Stadium MK, Milton Keynes (capacity: 30,500)
RC Toulon (4) v Munster Rugby (9) – Matmut Stadium de Gerland, Lyon (capacity: 35,000)
Stade Toulousain (5) v Munster Rugby (9) – Matmut ATLANTIQUE, Bordeaux (capacity: 42,100)
Castres Olympique (6) v Glasgow Warriors (7) – Matmut ATLANTIQUE, Bordeaux (capacity: 42,100)

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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 6 days ago

Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

4 Go to comments

James 6 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

37 Go to comments

dw 6 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

37 Go to comments

dw 6 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

37 Go to comments

dw 6 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.

Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 6 days ago

'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

91 Go to comments

JM 6 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 6 days ago

'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

4 Go to comments

OJohn 6 days ago

Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

0 Go to comments

Carlos 6 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

37 Go to comments

Carlos 6 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

37 Go to comments

Solenn Bonnet 6 days ago

Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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0 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 6 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 6 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 6 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.

Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

37 Go to comments

BC 6 days ago

Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

1 Go to comments

Otagoman II 6 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

37 Go to comments

NB 6 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍