Warriors gear up for ‘ultimate’ Euro test

THE match that Glasgow head coach Gregor Townsend has described as “the ultimate” for his team, the Warriors’ Champions Cup quarter-final against holders Saracens, will take place at Allianz Park on Sunday, April 2, kicking off at 1pm.

The north London ground will have a capacity of at least 15,000 and, under European rules, the Warriors will have a ticket allocation of 25 per cent.

“Saracens have been the best team in Europe over the past couple of years,” Townsend said after the win over Leicester that took his team into the last eight for the first time. “To take them on is the ultimate and we can’t wait.”

Glasgow will sell tickets through glasgowwarriors.org, and season-ticket holders will have at least three days in which to buy before a general sale starts. The Warriors will email supporters with more details next week.

If Townsend’s team wins, it will have “home country advantage”, as the organisers describe it, in a semi-final against either Munster or Toulouse. With Scotstoun being too small for such a big match, a number of larger stadiums will come into consideration.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh’s Challenge Cup quarter-final against French club La Rochelle will go ahead at BT Murrayfield two days earlier, on Friday, March 31, at 8pm. “La Rochelle have proven their worth in both the Top 14 and Europe this season, and we are fully aware of the challenge they’ll pose,” Edinburgh coach Duncan Hodge said yesterday. “However, we’re on our home patch and that’s a huge boost for the team.”

If Edinburgh get through they will be away in the semi to either Cardiff or Gloucester. The finals of both tournaments will be held at the national stadium: the Challenge Cup on Friday, May 12, and the Champions Cup on Saturday 13.

Champions Cup quarter-finals: Saturday, April 1:

Le inste r v Wasps (3.1 5pm ); Munste r v Toulouse (5.45pm ). Sarace ns v G lasgow (1 pm ): Cle rm ont-Auve rgne v Toulon (4.1 5pm ).

Sunday, April 2: Challenge Cup quarter-finals: Friday, March 31: Saturday, April 1:

Edinburgh v La Roche lle (8pm ). Bath v Brive (1 2.45pm ). G louce ste r v Cardiff (8.05pm ). Sunday,April2: Ospre ys v Stade Francais (5.45pm ).