Cardiff and Twickenham host finals

THE next two Heineken Cup finals will take place in Wales and England after the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff was confirmed as the venue for the 2010-11 tournament showpiece match and Twickenham was awarded the right to stage the final in 2012.

The Millennium Stadium last hosted the final in 2008, as Munster beat Toulouse 16-13. Twickenham staged the 2007 final, which Wasps won by beating Leicester 25-9.

The Millennium Stadium final will take place on the weekend of May 21/22, 2011.

The 2012 final will be played at Twickenham on the weekend of May 19/20.

“We are delighted to be coming back to Cardiff for the 2011 Heineken Cup final. It is a city that has fully embraced the Heineken Cup ever since our first season when the home team reached the inaugural final,” said ERC chief executive Derek McGrath.

Welsh Rugby Union group chief executive Roger Lewis added: “The decision to stage the 2011 Heineken Cup final in the Millennium Stadium is a great honour for Wales and for Welsh rugby. This event will bring tens of thousands of visiting fans into our capital and create a truly carnival atmosphere for a game which is certain to be a sell-out.

“The three finals staged at the Millennium Stadium in recent years have generated more than £50 million for the Welsh economy and the event has had a hugely beneficial financial impact on the Welsh nation.”