Paris (AFP)

The 2019-2020 European Rugby Cups, stopped because of the pandemic, will end with a final phase in the fall, with finals in Marseille on October 16 and 17, announced on Thursday the EPCR.

"It is now planned that the quarter-finals of the two tournaments will take place on the weekend of September 18-19-20 and the semi-finals on the weekend of September 25-26-27," said the organizer. European Cups.

"The European season will end with the Challenge Cup final on Friday October 16 and the Champions Cup final on Saturday October 17. The EPCR remains committed to organizing these matches in Marseille," the statement added.

Leinster-Saracens, Clermont-Racing 92, Exeter-Northampton and Toulouse-Ulster will therefore be competing for a place in the Champions Cup semi-finals, scheduled for the end of September.

The exact dates and times, the stadiums and the broadcasters of these meetings will be announced soon.

Toulon, Castres and Bordeaux-Bègles are still engaged in the European Challenge.

Originally scheduled for April, these meetings were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

These decisions remain linked to developments in the health situation and "restrictions on public gatherings and international travel that may be in effect at the time of the finals".

Next season will start on the weekend of December 11-12-13. In what format? According to a source familiar with the matter, the formula with twenty-four teams (including eight from the Top 14), divided into two pools of twelve, should be validated soon, once the EPCR has agreed with the broadcasters.

© 2020 AFP