Wins For Ulster And Leinster Would Set Up Aviva Stadium Clashes

The Aviva Stadium will host two Heineken Cup semi-finals later this month if Ulster and Leinster win their respective quarter-final clashes this weekend – and if both Munster and Leinster advance, the provincial rivals would face off at the home of Irish rugby.

Meanwhile, the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille will become the 105th venue to stage a Heineken Cup fixture if reigning champions Toulon overcome Leinster in Sunday’s massive quarter-final tie, with the winners set to meet either Munster or Toulouse on the road to the Cardiff 2014 final.

The iconic stadium which staged the 2010 Amlin Challenge Cup final is currently being redeveloped and will have a capacity of 41,000 for what could be the second match of the Heineken Cup semi-finals weekend on Sunday, April 27.

Leinster will be targeting a semi-final in the familiar surrounds of Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on the same date should they come away with a prized win from the Stade Félix Mayol.

The first of the 2013/14 tournament semi-finals will take place on Saturday, April 26 in Dublin or London.

Ulster could set up a two-day festival of European club rugby in the Irish capital as a quarter-final win for the 1999 European champions over Saracens will earn them a semi-final at the Aviva Stadium on the Saturday, with the possibility of a dream Leinster v Munster showdown for Irish rugby fans at the Dublin venue the following day.

Should Saracens come away from Ravenhill with a victory, then they will meet the winners of the Clermont Auvergne v Leicester Tigers quarter-final at Twickenham on Saturday, April 26.

Details of ticket sales for the two high-profile matches will be available on ercrugby.com next week.Tickets will be sold via the competing teams and will also be on general sale.

The Heineken Cup semi-finals are played at venues designated by ERC which are selected in conjunction with the relevant home Union.

‘Home country advantage’ in the last four was determined by a draw in January following the conclusion of the pool stages.

HEINEKEN CUP SEMI-FINALS:

Saturday, April 26 –

ULSTER v winners of Clermont Auvergne v Leicester Tigers, Aviva Stadium, Dublin (capacity: 51,000), 3.40pm

OR

Saracens v winners of Clermont Auvergne v Leicester Tigers, Twickenham, London (capacity: 82,000), 3.40pm

Sunday, April 27 –

Toulon v winners of MUNSTER v Toulouse, Stade Vélodrome, Marseille (capacity: 41,000), 4.30pm local time/3.30pm Irish time

OR

LEINSTER v winners of Munster v Toulouse, Aviva Stadium, Dublin (capacity: 51,000), 3.30pm