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The scene for Leinster's Champions Cup semi-final with Northampton last season. James Crombie/INPHO

Croke Park confirmed as venue for Leinster's last-16 tie with Harlequins

Munster to face La Rochelle on Saturday night, 5 April.

CROKE PARK HAS been confirmed as the venue for Leinsterโ€™s last-16 Champions Cup tie with Harlequins.

The provinceโ€™s home game will take place on Saturday, 5 April at 3pm.

Leinster have home advantage through the knockout stage having topped their poll. Saturdayโ€™s 47-21 win over Bath at the Aviva Stadium helped them to a ranking of second seed. The London outfit are 15th seeds having finished fourth in their pool.

Munsterโ€™s much-anticipated game with Ronan Oโ€™Garaโ€™s La Rochelle will be played on Saturday evening, 6.30pm, on 5 April. A huge Munster support is expected to travel to the west coast of France for the clash.

Ulsterโ€™s away tie at high-flying Bordeaux-Bรจgles takes place on Sunday, 6 April at 1.30pm.

Top Challenge Cup seeds Connacht host Cardiff at Dexcom Stadium at 8pm on Saturday, 5 April.

 

Champions Cup, round of 16

(Pool stage rankings in brackets / All kick-offs local times)

 

Friday, 4 April

Northampton Saints (3) v ASM Clermont Auvergne (14), Franklinโ€™s Gardens, 8pm

 

Saturday, 5 April

Toulon (4) v Saracens (13), Stade Fรฉlix Mayol, 1.30pm

Leinster Rugby (2) v Harlequins (15), Croke Park, 3pm

Castres (6) v Benetton (11), Stade Pierre-Fabre, 4pm

La Rochelle (8) v Munster (9), Stade Marcel Deflandre, 6.30pm

Glasgow Warriors (7) v Leicester Tigers (10), Scotstoun, 8pm

 

Sunday, 6 April

Bordeaux-Bรจgles (1) v Ulster Rugby (16), Stade Chaban-Delmas, 1.30pm

Toulouse (5) v Sale Sharks (12), Stadium Municipal de Toulouse, 4pm

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    Mute chris mcdonnell
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    Jan 22nd 2025, 2:29 PM

    Is this a big enough game/opposition to fill croke park?

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    Mute Paul Ennis
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    Jan 22nd 2025, 2:42 PM

    @chris mcdonnell: No, but the Aviva is unavailable. I would expect the top tiers to remain closed to keep the cost down

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    Mute Paul Ennis
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    Jan 22nd 2025, 2:45 PM

    @Paul Ennis: Preparations for the Europa League Final apparently!!

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    Mute Michael Corkery
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    Jan 22nd 2025, 3:07 PM

    @chris mcdonnell: a very pertinent question. My answer would be no but I guess people will maybe turnout DOR the occasion.

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    Mute Francis Wallace
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    Jan 22nd 2025, 3:14 PM

    @chris mcdonnell: Probably not, bit of a strange decision really, according to the Aviva stadium website the stadium is free that weekend, Ireland playing Bulgaria in the nations league 23rd march, Leinster playing Ulster 19th April, in between is freeโ€ฆ Iโ€™m sure thereโ€™s a good reason!

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    Mute Paul Ennis
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    Jan 22nd 2025, 3:59 PM

    @Francis Wallace: Der absolutely is!!

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    Mute Francis Wallace
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    Jan 22nd 2025, 5:41 PM

    @Paul Ennis: what?

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    Mute Francis Wallace
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    Jan 22nd 2025, 5:41 PM

    @Paul Ennis: Europa league final was last year!

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    Mute Den
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    Jan 22nd 2025, 2:31 PM

    Great venue and advert for the sportโ€ฆ. Also the extra tickets to be sold allowing more people young and old to experience the atmosphere of Croke park โ€ฆ. It was only a pity Munster didnโ€™t win and the debate of utilising Pairc Ui Chaoih which would have sold out without a doubt of 42000 sell outโ€ฆ. Maybe next yearโ€ฆ

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    Mute Lulu
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    Jan 22nd 2025, 6:36 PM

    @Den: Why ? So Munster rugby can pay off Cork GAAโ€™s debt on that white elephant!

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    Mute Rugbyanbeer
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    Jan 22nd 2025, 7:11 PM

    @Den: Its a shocking venue, how many times a year does it make money?? Built on an island with only one way in ,its an example for 1st year architect students on how to f@@k up

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    Mute Stephen Nolan
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    Jan 22nd 2025, 9:50 PM

    @Den: From a user experience perspective, Croker is not a great venue. Cramming 82,000 into a stadium built for 70,000, comes at a cost. Youโ€™d need to starve yourself to fit in the seats. Pitch not designed to fit a rugby game. Not to mention the ridiculous lack of toilets in the place.

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    Mute Richard Ford
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    Jan 23rd 2025, 9:34 AM

    @Stephen Nolan: Ho hum. Thereโ€™s always one.

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    Mute Justin Robinson
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    Jan 22nd 2025, 12:55 PM

    Pau, Bayonne and Bordeaux in successive days should be fun. Fingers crossed for no
    French Rail strikes!

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    Mute Gary Galligan
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    Jan 22nd 2025, 3:07 PM

    @Justin Robinson: wat

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    Mute Michael Corkery
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    Jan 22nd 2025, 3:09 PM

    @Justin Robinson: looking at the games in the Sunday, I think we can call it โ€˜Bloody Sundayโ€™ mark 3 lol

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    Mute Justin Robinson
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    Jan 22nd 2025, 4:25 PM

    @Michael Corkery: From past experience of that kind of Sunday kick off time in Bordeaux in 2016, thereโ€™s not much chance of a vocal Ulster away support. Heads will still be too sore! The Connemara Bar will take a fortune over the weekend though! Dublin/Biarritz flights are a bargain for anyone else thinking of a week away and a few games of rugby.

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    Mute The Firestarter
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    Jan 22nd 2025, 2:12 PM

    At least Croker will be filled before the All Ireland finals.

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    Mute sean murphy
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    Jan 22nd 2025, 2:36 PM

    @The Firestarter: I wouldnโ€™t be so sure itโ€™ll sell out

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    Mute Seanie
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    Jan 22nd 2025, 4:43 PM

    Why do people go on about full house are not going to be a big crowd โ€ฆโ€ฆ

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    Mute Seanie
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    Jan 22nd 2025, 4:47 PM

    @Seanie: not one SA team in last 16 mayby they perfer the URC

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