Irish rugby supporters are set for a bumper day of action on Saturday, April 1, as all four provinces face crucial Champions Cup and Challenge Cup knockout games.
ournament organisers EPCR have confirmed the dates and times for the Round of 16, with Leinster’s clash against Ulster at the Aviva Stadium given top billing.
The interpro derby will kick-off at 5.30 in Dublin and will be shown live on RTÉ and BT Sport.
The winners will take on the winners of Leicester’s clash with Edinburgh, with Leinster facing the prospect of having the exact same run from the quarter-final to the final as they had in last season’s Champions Cup.
Ulster will be out to cause what would be a major upset, as Leinster hope that home advantage, which they will have all the way until May’s final at the Aviva, counts in their favour.
Munster will get the action underway at 1.30 local time (11.30am Irish) in Durban, as they take on the Sharks (live on BT Sport) in what is likely to be searing heat.
Graham Rowntree’s side have been handed a tough draw, as if they topple the Sharks, they then face the possibility of another away day in Toulouse before returning to South Africa for a URC double header.
Connacht’s Challenge Cup Round of 16 meeting with Benetton in Treviso will be sandwiched in between the Sharks-Munster and Leinster-Ulster games.
Andy Friend’s men will take on the in-form Italian side at Stadio di Mongio, with a 4.0 local kick-off time (3.0 Irish).
Although the game will not be televised, Connacht fans will be able to watch it on epcrrugby.tv.
HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP – Round of 16
(Pool stage rankings in brackets / All kick-offs local times)
Friday 31 March
Match 5: Leicester Tigers (B4) v Edinburgh Rugby (A5), Mattioli Woods Welford Road (20.00)
BT Sport / beIN SPORTS / SuperSport
Saturday 1 April
Match 3: Cell C Sharks (A3) v Munster Rugby (B6), Hollywoodbets Kings Park (13.30)
SuperSport / BT Sport / beIN SPORTS
Match 6: DHL Stormers (B3) v Harlequins (A6), DHL Stadium (16.00)
SuperSport / BT Sport / beIN SPORTS
Match 1: Leinster Rugby (A1) v Ulster Rugby (B8), Aviva Stadium (17.30)
RTE / BT Sport / beIN SPORTS / SuperSport
Match 8: Stade Rochelais (B1) v Gloucester Rugby (A8), Stade Marcel Deflandre (18.30)
beIN SPORTS / France TV / BT Sport / SuperSport
Sunday 2 April
Match 2: Exeter Chiefs (A2) v Montpellier Hérault Rugby (B7), Sandy Park (12.30)
ITV / BT Sport / beIN SPORTS / SuperSport
Match 4: Saracens (A4) v Ospreys (B5), StoneX Stadium (15.00)
BT Sport / S4C / beIN SPORTS / SuperSport
Match 7: Stade Toulousain (B2) v Vodacom Bulls (A7), Le Stadium (16.00)
France TV / beIN SPORTS / SuperSport / BT Sport
Quarter-finals – 7/8/9 April
QF 1: Winner Match 1 v Winner Match 5
QF 2: Winner Match 7 v Winner Match 3
QF 3: Winner Match 2 v Winner Match 6
QF 4: Winner Match 8 v Winner Match 4
NB The highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home advantage
Semi-finals – 28/29/30 April
SF 1: Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 2
SF 2: Winner QF 3 v Winner QF 4
NB The matches will be played in Europe and the highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home country advantage
2023 Heineken Champions Cup final: Saturday 20 May; Aviva Stadium, Dublin