Date set at last for Blues’ Euro play-off
THE farce over the date of Cardiff Blues’ Champions Cup wild-card play-off against Stade Francais has finally come to an end.
It will take place at Stade Jean Bouin in Paris next Friday with a 5pm (BST) kick-off.
The winner will face the victor of the other play-off, which will see Northampton Saints or Gloucester host Connacht the following day with a 4pm start.
The team that comes out on top in that match will have home advantage in the play-off final, which takes place on Friday, May 26, to reach next season’s showpiece Champions Cup.
Blues officials and their supporters were furious at the delay of tournament organisers European Professional Club Rugby in getting around to fixing a date for their semi-final play-off.
Some Blues fans had ripped up their plans to travel to Paris because of the shambles.
A spokesperson for Blues’ Supporters’ Club described the situation as “hugely disappointing” and “a source of massive frustration”.
One of the reasons for the delay was the game couldn’t be played on Saturday, May 20, due to a clash with football.
Paris Saint-Germain are taking on Caen at the nearby Parc des Princes that evening in what could prove to be a Ligue One French title decider.
And the city authorities will not allow another sporting event to go ahead on the same day, particularly as Stade Jean-Bouin is situated in the same area.
Sarah Hopkins, chairperson of Cardiff Blues Supporters’ Club, had slammed EPCR, saying: “There seems to be a complete lack of regard for supporters when arranging these fixtures, which is hugely disappointing for such an important game.”
If the Blues beat Stade and win the wild-card final, they will join the Scarlets and Ospreys in next season’s Champions Cup.