New venue sought for Challenge Cup final
MARSEILLE’S STADE VELODROME WILL NOW PLAY HOST IN 2021
THE 2020 Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals will be played at new venues after tournament organisers decided to move the games away from Marseille.
The French city will now stage the 2021 finals, with Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London hosting in 2022.
In a statement European Professional Club Rugby said it was “working with its shareholder leagues and unions to secure an alternative venue or venues for the two finals”, which will be played on the weekend of October 16-18. Details will be announced “as soon as practicable”.
EPCR chiefs announced in June they planned to stage the 2020 finals in midOctober, despite the coronavirus pandemic.
The quarterfinals of both tournaments will be played on the weekend of September
18-20 – when Leicester Tigers will take on Castres in the Challenge Cup – with the semi-finals scheduled for September 25-27.
The EPCR statement said: “Due to the many uncertainties created by the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been decided that the 2020 Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals will not now be held in Marseille as planned and the matches will be played at a new venue or venues.
“With tens of thousands of fans scheduled to travel to the south of France, the board of EPCR and the local organising committee have agreed that insufficient safeguards are currently in place during the public health crisis to stage two high-profile matches at the 67,000-capacity Stade Velodrome.
“Tickets for this season’s finals will be valid for the 2021 weekend with no change to category or seating, and all ticket holders will be contacted by email within the next 48
The quarter-finals will be played on the weekend of September 18-20 – when Tigers will take on Castres
hours with details of how to avail of a full refund if required.
“As is now customary during the pandemic, the matches will be subject to government guidelines with the health and welfare of players, club staff, match officials, supporters and the wider rugby community to the fore.”