CROKE PARK HAS been confirmed as the venue for Leinsterโs last-16 Champions Cup tie with Harlequins.
The provinceโs home game will take place on Saturday, 5 April at 3pm.
Leinster have home advantage through the knockout stage having topped their poll. Saturdayโs 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.
Munsterโs much-anticipated game with Ronan OโGaraโs 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.
Ulsterโs 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), Franklinโs 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
Is this a big enough game/opposition to fill croke park?
@chris mcdonnell: No, but the Aviva is unavailable. I would expect the top tiers to remain closed to keep the cost down
@Paul Ennis: Preparations for the Europa League Final apparently!!
@chris mcdonnell: a very pertinent question. My answer would be no but I guess people will maybe turnout DOR the occasion.
@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 freeโฆ Iโm sure thereโs a good reason!
@Francis Wallace: Der absolutely is!!
@Paul Ennis: what?
@Paul Ennis: Europa league final was last year!
Great venue and advert for the sportโฆ. Also the extra tickets to be sold allowing more people young and old to experience the atmosphere of Croke park โฆ. It was only a pity Munster didnโt win and the debate of utilising Pairc Ui Chaoih which would have sold out without a doubt of 42000 sell outโฆ. Maybe next yearโฆ
@Den: Why ? So Munster rugby can pay off Cork GAAโs debt on that white elephant!
@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
@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. Youโd 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.
@Stephen Nolan: Ho hum. Thereโs always one.
Pau, Bayonne and Bordeaux in successive days should be fun. Fingers crossed for no
French Rail strikes!
@Justin Robinson: wat
@Justin Robinson: looking at the games in the Sunday, I think we can call it โBloody Sundayโ mark 3 lol
@Michael Corkery: From past experience of that kind of Sunday kick off time in Bordeaux in 2016, thereโs 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.
At least Croker will be filled before the All Ireland finals.
@The Firestarter: I wouldnโt be so sure itโll sell out
Why do people go on about full house are not going to be a big crowd โฆโฆ
@Seanie: not one SA team in last 16 mayby they perfer the URC