Harlequins tie will be played at The Stoop

Munster’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Harlequins will be played at The Stoop.

The Premiership pacesetters last night rejected suggestions they would consider taking the tie to a larger London venue, insisting the game will go ahead at their 14,816 capacity ground which hosted the Amlin Challenge Cup final last year.

There had been speculation a tie against an Irish province could have resulted in the game being switched across the road to Twickenham which can host 82,000 fans. However club bosses last night remained adamant that the game will be on their home pitch — bad news for Munster fans beginning the scramble for tickets.

Harlequins’ Director of Rugby O’Shea last night predicted the quarter-final with Munster will be “a truly memorable occasion.”

O’Shea said: “Everyone associated with this club is very excited that we reached the quarter-final stage of this great tournament. The fact that our opponents on the first weekend in April will be Munster only heightens that excitement.”