New venue for Saints cup clash

Northampton will play their Heineken Cup quarter-final against Toulouse at the 36,500-capacity Stadium Municipal.

The French 1996 Heineken Cup winners have opted not to play the tie at their Stade Ernest Wallon home, which holds in the region of 18,000 supporters.

Toulouse will instead take on the 2000 European champions at the stadium which hosted games during the 1998 soccer World Cup.

“This is the number-one tournament in Europe and the quarter-final against Northampton is an enormous game,” said Toulouse head coach Guy Noves.

“Northampton are currently one of the best teams in Europe with some great players and it is logical to play this game in a stadium that not only has a bigger capacity, but is also available. I think it will be full.

“We want to share the event with as many people as possible and we can double the crowd we would have had at Stade Ernest Wallon.”

Leinster have already announced they will play Biarritz at the 49,000-capacity Lansdowne Road in Dublin.

Llanelli’s tie against Perpignan is a 10,800 sell-out and with the 16,815 tickets for Leicester’s clash with Munster like gold dust, the 2003 quarter-finals are set to attract record attendances.

:: Heineken Cup quarter-finals:

Friday April 11 – Llanelli v Perpignan, Stradey Park (7.30pm GMT)

Saturday April 12 – Toulouse v Northampton, Stadium Municipal de Toulouse (3.45pm);

Leinster v Biarritz, Lansdowne Road (3.35pm)

Sunday April 13 – Leicester v Munster, Welford Road (4pm)