Rugby’s greatest international club cup competitions are back this weekend with a star-studded programme and four world-class clashes. The Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup return with a semi-finals weekend that is set to break EPCR attendance and broadcast viewership records in the first era of Investec’s title partnership.
With Croke Park achieving a sell-out in just three hours, Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup semi-final between Leinster Rugby and Northampton Saints could break the tournament attendance record of 82 208 set at the same Dublin venue in 2009.
Meanwhile, the Investec Champions Cup clash between Stade Toulousain and Harlequins at the 33 150-capacity Le Stadium in Toulouse on Sunday also sold out within hours, ensuring blockbuster matches with over 115 000 spectators between them.
This will see a record number of spectators in stadia for an EPCR season, expected to exceed 1.4-million over the course of the season to date.
Meanwhile, there are more rugby fans tuning in on television and streaming platforms across the world than ever before, with more than 75m accessing EPCR fixtures in over 100 countries.
EPCR Chairman, Dominic McKay, said: "We are looking forward to a superb weekend of world-class knockout rugby at the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup semi-finals this weekend.
"The first season in the new Investec Champions Cup era has proved a strong success, with the competitions going from strength-to-strength. Spectator and viewer numbers are up, social and digital engagement is increasing and we are creating more ways than ever to engage our fans.
"On the pitch, we have already seen some classic clashes between rivals old and new, showcasing the unique magic of these tournaments. The fact that all three leagues and five unions are represented across the four semi-finals is testament to the vibrancy of the Gallagher Premiership, TOP 14 and URC as well as the high-quality clubs competing for top honours.
"All the narratives weaved into this weekend’s fixtures make for a fascinating road to London and our Finals weekend on 24 and 25 May at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium."
In the Investec Champions Cup, the four clubs in the hunt for a place at the London finals are all chasing their own piece of history: Leinster could earn their record-equalling fifth star while Stade Toulousain could win a record sixth star; Northampton Saints could add to their first star back in 2000, while Harlequins would be out to win their first title, 20 years on from their second Challenge Cup victory in 2004. All three leagues – the Gallagher Premiership, the TOP14 and the URC – are all represented in the semi-finals.
It is a similar case in the EPCR Challenge Cup, with all three leagues represented across the four clubs. Gloucester Rugby are seeking a record-equalling third title, while ASM Clermont Auvergne can go one further and top the table with four. Benetton Rugby and the Hollywoodbets Sharks can make history by earning their first piece of EPCR silverware.
EPCR has also announced recent partnerships with LegendaryPlays and Event Merchandising Ltd to enhance fans’ experience of the competitions even further.
The collaboration with LegendaryPlays will showcase the rich 30-year history of the world’s top international club rugby tournament. Fans of international rugby will be able to collect, showcase and engage with their favourite moments by building and trading officially-licensed digital video moments.
At shop.epcrugby.com, EPCR’s newly-launched online store, EPCR has teamed up with Event Merchandising Ltd to launch an exclusive range of Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup and London 24-branded clothing, Gilbert balls and rugby merchandise, which will be available online and in-store at the London 24 Finals at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Investec Champions Cup semi-finals
Leinster Rugby v Northampton Saints - Saturday 6.30pm (SA time) @ Croke Park, Dublin
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (Fra)
RTÉ/TNT Sports/beIN Sports/FloRugby/SuperSport
Stade Toulousain v Harlequins - Sunday 5pm (SA time) @ Le Stadium, Toulouse
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ire)
France TV/beIN Sports/TNT Sports/ITV/SuperSport/FloRugby
EPCR Challenge Cup semi-finals
Hollywoodbets Sharks v ASM Clermont Auvergne - Saturday 1.30om (SA time) @ Twickenham Stoop
Referee: Luke Pearce (Eng)
TNT Sports/France TV/beIN Sports/FloRugby/SuperSport
Gloucester Rugby v Benetton Rugby - Saturday 4pm (SA time ) @ Kingsholm
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)
TNT Sports/epcrugby.tv/beIN Sports/FloRugby/SuperSport
Tickets are available for Gloucester Rugby v Benetton at Kingsholm and Hollywoodbets Sharks v ASM Clermont Auvergne at the Stoop, so fans can still see EPCR action live on the pitch.
As the clubs face the final hurdle before reaching the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup showpiece matches at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 May, over 60 000 tickets have already been sold for the London 24 Finals. The last remaining tickets for the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup Finals are available HERE
Comments