Franklin’s Gardens could be a host venue for a European Rugby Champions Cup semi-final, tournament organisers EPCR has announced.
Should Wasps overcome Leinster at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon they will have home country advantage for their semi-final against either Clermont Auvergne or Toulon on the weekend of April 21/22.
Franklin’s Gardens has been chosen as one of several iconic rugby venues by EPCR as a possible semi-final venue alongside the Matmut Stadium de Gerland (Lyon), the Allianz Riviera Stadium (Nice), the Aviva Stadium (Dublin), Stade Chaban-Delmas (Bordeaux) and Murrayfield (Edinburgh), the last of which will also host the final on Saturday, May 13th.
The format for the semi-final matches in the Champions Cup recognises performances by clubs during the pool stage as well as the achievement of winning a quarter-final match away from home.
The Champions Cup semi-finals are played at venues designated by EPCR which have been selected in this instance in conjunction with the Irish Rugby Football Union, Scottish Rugby, Premiership Rugby and the Ligue Nationale de Rugby.
Champions Cup semi-finals – 22/23 April
SF 1: if ASM Clermont Auvergne v Leinster Rugby – Matmut Stadium de Gerland (Lyon)
SF 1: if RC Toulon v Leinster Rugby – Allianz Riviera Stadium (Nice)
SF 1: if Wasps v ASM Clermont Auvergne – Franklin’s Gardens (Northampton)
SF 1: if Wasps v RC Toulon – Franklin’s Gardens (Northampton)
SF 2: if Munster Rugby v Saracens – Aviva Stadium (Dublin)
SF 2: if Toulouse v Saracens – Stade Chaban-Delmas (Bordeaux)
SF 2: if Glasgow Warriors v Munster Rugby – BT Murrayfield (Edinburgh)
SF 2: if Glasgow Warriors v Toulouse – BT Murrayfield (Edinburgh)
