New EPCR chief wants European finals held outside traditional areas

La Rochelle's coach Ronan O'Gara celebrates after winning the European Rugby Champions Cup in Marseille. The new EPCR chief wants to explore the possibility of hosting the finals in non-traditional venues. Pic: Nicolas Tucat/AFP via Getty Images

Heineken Champions Cup boss Anthony LePage has indicated a return to destination finals and possibly semi-finals in new territories for the expanded European club competition in a bid to grow the game of rugby.

The new EPCR chief executive, formerly the competition organiser’s chief financial officer, has welcomed South Africa’s quartet of URC competitors into the Champions Cup fold for this season but focused on European destinations in Spain, Portugal and Germany as well as citing Amsterdam and Brussels as potential host cities.