Ahead of the much-anticipated Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup knockout stages, EPCR is pleased to announce the dates, kick-off times and TV coverage for the semi-final matches in both tournaments.
In the Challenge Cup, the winners of the Bristol Bears v Dragons and Bordeaux-Bègles v Edinburgh Rugby quarter-finals will play one another on Friday, 25 September while the winners of the RC Toulon v Scarlets and Leicester Tigers v Castres Olympique quarter-finals will meet on Saturday, 26 September.
The highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home venue advantage as per the traditional Challenge Cup format.
It means the Scarlets, who finished the pool stages as eighth seeds, will definitely be away in the semi-finals should they triumph in the south of France on Saturday evening.
The winners of the Leinster Rugby v Saracens and the ASM Clermont Auvergne v Racing 92 Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals will meet in the semi-final on Saturday, 26 September live on BT Sport with additional free-to-air coverage on Channel 4 and Virgin Media.
The second semi-final, also on Saturday, 26 September and also live on BT Sport, will feature the winners of the Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints and Toulouse v Ulster Rugby quarter-finals.
CHALLENGE CUP SEMI-FINALS
Friday 25 September
SF 2: Winner Bristol Bears/Dragons v winner Bordeaux-Bègles/Edinburgh Rugby
Kick-off: 19.45 UK time or 20.45 French time
TV: BT Sport/beIN SPORTS
Saturday 26 September
SF 1: Winner RC Toulon/Scarlets v winner Leicester Tigers/Castres Olympique
Kick-off: 20.00 UK time or 21.00 French time
TV: BT Sport/FR 4/beIN SPORTS/S4C
Semi-final 1
If RC Toulon (ranked No 1) and Leicester Tigers (ranked No 4) win their quarter-finals, Toulon will have home venue advantage
If RC Toulon (ranked No 1) and Castres Olympique (ranked No 5) win their quarter-finals, Toulon will have home venue advantage
If Leicester Tigers (ranked No 4) and Scarlets (ranked No 8) win their quarter-finals, Leicester will have home venue advantage
If Castres Olympique (ranked No 5) and Scarlets (ranked No 8) win their quarter-finals, Castres will have home venue advantage
Semi-final 2
If Bristol Bears (ranked No 2) and Bordeaux-Bègles (ranked No 3) win their quarter-finals, Bristol will have home venue advantage
If Bristol Bears (ranked No 2) and Edinburgh Rugby (ranked No 6) win their quarter-finals, Bristol will have home venue advantage
If Bordeaux-Bègles (ranked No 3) and Dragons (ranked No 7) win their quarter-finals, Bordeaux-Bègles will have home venue advantage
If Edinburgh Rugby (ranked No 6) and Dragons (ranked No 7) win their quarter-finals, Edinburgh will have home venue advantage
Notes
• The Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup quarter-finals in England and Ireland are currently scheduled to be played behind closed doors.
• Attendances for quarter-finals in France will be limited and clubs can apply to their local authorities for increases.