Challenge Cup and Shield finals head for Oxford

Oxford United’s Kassam Stadium will stage the European Challenge Cup and Shield finals this season.

The May 21 double-header looks set to feature Sale Sharks and Pau in the Challenge Cup final, with Leeds or Worcester contesting Shield honours against French rivals Auch or Bayonne.

Both Sharks and Pau take leads with them into this weekend’s semi-final, second leg ties against respective opponents Connacht and Brive.

The Challenge Cup final will kick off at 12.45pm, followed by the Shield final at 5pm.

The 12,400-capacity Kassam Stadium is no stranger to hosting rugby, having staged the 2002 Challenge Cup final when Sharks beat Welsh club Pontypridd 25-22.