Lansdowne Road picked for semi

Lansdowne Road has been chosen as one of three possible venues for this season’s Heineken Cup semi-finals.

This means that Leinster are guaranteed a Dublin tie against Llanelli or Perpignan if they defeat Biarritz on April 12.

A Biarritz victory would take them to Le Stadium de Toulouse.

“The prime considerations of a semi-final venue are to accommodate a crowd in excess of 20,000, a city to cater in all aspects – particularly ease of access and accommodation for the influx of thousands of fans, while allowing those travelling supporters the opportunity to plan their trips well in advance,” said Jean-Pierre Lux, chairman of European Rugby Cup Limited.

ERC chief executive Derek McGrath added: “We have chosen three prestigious stadiums for the semi-finals, and we have set out to do this well in advance of the actual matches because we have so little planning time – just two weeks - between the quarter-finals and the semis.

“We have examined all the possible permutations, and have come up with these three major venues to cover any eventuality.”

Lansdowne Road and Le Stadium de Toulouse have both staged hugely successful semi-finals in the past. Cardiff beat Leinster in Dublin in 1996, while in 1998, Brive knocked out Toulouse, and in 1999, Colomiers beat Perpignan at Toulouse’s municipal stadium.

If Toulouse and Biarritz both win, then the semi-finals will take place at the same ground – Le Stadium de Toulouse – on Saturday and Sunday.

Heineken Cup quarter-finals: April 11 – Llanelli v Perpignan (7.30pm);

April 12 – Toulouse v Northampton (1.45pm BST),

Leinster v Biarritz (3.35pm);

April 13 - Leicester v Munster (4pm).

Semi-final draw: April 26/27 – Toulouse or Northampton v Leicester or Munster,

Leinster or Biarritz v Llanelli or Perpignan.

Possible semi-final fixtures at the three venues would be:

Lansdowne Road – Leinster v Llanelli or Perpignan.

Villa Park – Northampton v Leicester or Munster

Le Stadium de Toulouse – Toulouse v Leicester or Munster;

Biarritz v Llanelli or Perpignan.