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 semifinals 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 Champions Cup semifinal between Leinster and Northampton Saints could break the tournament attendance record of 82 208 set at the same Dublin venue in 2009.
Unbelievable Tekkers 🤩
— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) May 1, 2024
Any excuse to bring this insane moment from @GloucesterRugby’s Freddie Clark out 📂
Grab your tickets to the #ChallengeCupRugby semi-final at Kingsholm here 👇
Meanwhile, the other semifinal 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.
✨ Super Saturday ✨
— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) May 1, 2024
Four teams, two semi-finals, who makes the #ChallengeCupRugby final? 🏆
Here’s how you can watch the action this weekend 👇
This will see a record number of spectators in stadia for an EPCR season, expected to exceed 1.4m over the course of the season to date.
There are more rugby fans tuning in on television and streaming platforms across the world than ever before, with more than 75 million accessing EPCR fixtures in over 100 countries.
Hat-trick in the #BKTURC last weekend ✅
— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) April 30, 2024
Hat-trick in #ChallengeCupRugby this weekend… 👀
Could Werner Kok do the same at The Stoop on Saturday?
Grab your tickets for @SharksRugby’s semi-final clash with ASM Clermont Auvergne 🎟️👇
🎥 @URCOfficial
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 semifinals this weekend.
"The first season in the new 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 semifinals 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 Champions Cup, the four clubs in the hunt for a place at the London 24 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 semifinals.
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.
Investec Champions Cup semifinals
Leinster Rugby v Northampton Saints
Saturday 4 May, 6:30pm (local), Croke Park, Dublin
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (Fra)
Stade Toulousain v Harlequins
Sunday 5 May, 4pm (local), Le Stadium, Toulouse
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ire)
EPCR Challenge Cup semifinals
Hollywoodbets Sharks v ASM Clermont Auvergne
Saturday 4 May, 1:30pm , Twickenham Stoop
Referee: Luke Pearce (Eng)
Gloucester Rugby v Benetton Rugby
Saturday 4 May, 4pm, Kingsholm
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)