CHAMPIONS CUP SEMI-FINAL VENUES ANNOUNCED

POTENTIAL CHAMPIONS CUP SEMI-FINAL VENUE

Toulon got the better of Munster Rugby in last season's semi-final at the iconic Marseille stadium which has been completely redeveloped, and they are targeting another big day against either Leinster Rugby or Bath Rugby as they bid for an historic three European titles in a row.

Should Wasps dethrone the champions, they will take on Leinster or Bath in the last four at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton with the semi-finals scheduled for the weekend of 18/19 April.

The Brighton stadium is a Rugby World Cup 2015 venue and recently hosted the Under 20 6 Nations match between England and France.

If ASM Clermont Auvergne add to an impressive 22-game unbeaten home run in Europe when they meet Northampton Saints on Saturday week, they will play either Racing Metro 92 or Saracens in the semi-final at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Etienne.

However, should Saints come away from Clermont with a victory, they will meet either Racing or Saracens at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

The exact dates and kick-off times for the Champions Cup semi-finals will be announced following the quarter-finals, and details of ticket sales will be available on epcrugby.com. Tickets will be sold through the competing clubs and will also be on general sale.

The Champions Cup semi-finals are played at venues designated by EPCR which are selected in conjunction with the relevant Union. Home country advantage in the last four was determined by a draw at the conclusion of the pool stages in January. For the Challenge Cup, the semi-finals are played at home venues with home advantage also decided by the draw in January.

The inaugural knockout stages of EPCR's tournaments will kick off on Friday, 3 April when Gloucester Rugby meet Connacht Rugby in the first of the Challenge Cup quarter-finals, with the Champions Cup last-eight games getting underway the following day when Leinster go head-to-head with Bath.

Champions Cup semi-finals - 18/19 April

RC Toulon v winners Leinster Rugby v Bath Rugby

Stade Vélodrome, Marseille (capacity: 62,895)

OR

Wasps v winners Leinster Rugby v Bath Rugby

American Express Community Stadium, Brighton (capacity: 30,750)

ASM Clermont Auvergne v winners Racing Metro 92 v Saracens

Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne (capacity: 39,774)

OR

Northampton Saints v winners Racing Metro 92 v Saracens

Ricoh Arena, Coventry (capacity: 32,609)

Challenge Cup semi-finals - 17/18/19 April

Gloucester Rugby or Connacht Rugby v Exeter Chiefs or Newcastle Falcons

Kingsholm Stadium or The Sportsground

London Irish or Edinburgh Rugby v Newport Gwent Dragons or Cardiff Blues

Madejski Stadium or BT Murrayfield Stadium