It was confirmed on Sunday evening, after the completion of the final round of European pool games, that Leinster will face the defending champions Saracens in a home Champions Cup Quarter-Final at Aviva Stadium on Easter weekend (30th/31st March/1st April).
Leinster finished the pool stage win six wins out of six over Exeter Chiefs, Montpellier and Guinness PRO14 rivals Glasgow Warriors.
Leo Cullen’s men scored 176 points and 22 tries over those six games. The only team to score more were their quarter-final opponents with 205 points and 24 tries after their Round 6, 62-14, defeat of Northampton Saints.
Tickets for Leinster v Saracens will go on sale to Leinster Rugby Season Ticket holders first, with the general sale commencing on Tuesday, 6th February, via leinsterrugby.ie and Ticketmaster only.
Speaking to leinsterrugby.ie after the tie with the two-time European champions was confirmed, Leinster Rugby Head Coach Leo Cullen first reflected upon the hard work that went into making it into the knockout stage.
“Our focus all along was to just get out of our pool given that we were drawn against three teams at the top of their respective domestic competitions,” Cullen said.
“The players and the backroom staff have worked incredibly hard to achieve that goal and to achieve the home Quarter-Final in the Aviva Stadium on Easter weekend.
“The challenge doesn’t get any easier against a Saracens team looking for three Champion Cup titles in a row. They’re well coached under Mark McCall and have an array of English and foreign talent at their disposal and they’re showing good form in Europe and in the Premiership. They’re the top try scorers in both competitions so we’re under no illusions as to the task ahead.”
There is a while to wait until the Quarter-Final tie on Easter weekend, but Cullen and the team are looking forward to the challenge that awaits, with the Leinster support expected to be out in force at Aviva Stadium for a third time this season.
“It’s a while away yet but great to know who we have and we can start planning. It’s a challenge that we very much look forward to and I know the Leinster supporters will respond in kind to make it a brilliant occasion at the Aviva.”
Before the Champions Cup Quarter-Final clash against Saracens, Leinster will face Scarlets and South Africa’s Southern Kings in two crucial Guinness PRO14 games. Tickets for both of these games are available now.
