The city of Marseille will host the 2020 Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals. The two showpiece matches in the European club rugby calendar will be played at the iconic Stade de Marseille on 22 and 23 May 2020.
This follows a competitive tender process managed by Sport for Business partner The Sports Consultancy, and Marseille will now become the fourth French City to host the Finals after Bordeaux, Paris and Lyon.
Marseille was previously in the European club spotlight when the city staged the 2010 Challenge Cup decider between the Cardiff Blues and RC Toulon, however, 2020 will mark the first occasion that the 67,000-capacity stadium hosts the final of the tournament which reverts to the Heineken primary branding this season.
Leinster will open their bid to retain the Trophy and secure a fifth overall win when they host Wasps in the opening round of fixtures on Friday, October 12th.
“While France is a traditional stronghold of the great game of rugby, a European finals weekend in the city of Marseille will be a whole new experience both for local fans and for our loyal supporters who travel in their tens of thousands year after year,” said European Professional Club Rugby Director General, Vincent Gaillard.
“Having made history in Bilbao last season, and with all roads leading to Newcastle this season, we are certain that Marseille and the state of the art Stade de Marseille will deliver a truly memorable weekend on the Cote d’Azur as we celebrate the European Cup’s 25th anniversary.”
“In selecting our city, EPCR has recognised a remarkable collective work on a successful bid project, worthy of the expectations of this major sporting event, which commands the attention and enthusiasm of the rugby world,” added Jean-Claude Gaudin, Mayor of Marseille.
“After the European Year of Culture in 2013, UEFA EURO 2016, the European Year of Sport 2017, the Rugby World Cup 2023 and the hosting of the sailing events of the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2024, staging this top European club rugby weekend is further recognition for Marseille, now making us a member of an elite circle of sporting cities,” he added, rubbing just a little salt in the wounds of those who were involved in Ireland’s bid for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Since its opening in 1937, the home of French Ligue 1 club, Olympique de Marseille, has undergone several redevelopments. After hosting matches at the 1998 FIFA World Cup and 2007 Rugby World Cup, the stadium enhanced its reputation as a high-class venue with a renovation in 2014 ahead of UEFA EURO 2016. Since then, there have been two Champions Cup semi-finals at the Stade de Marseille and around 30 other major events including a match in the Six Nations Championship.
So far, six countries – England, France, Ireland, Scotland, Spain and Wales – have staged European club finals. Dublin has hosted the 1999, 2003 and 2013 Finals, the first of which was won by Ulster.
Leinster’s four wins to date have come in Edinburgh, Cardiff, London and Bilbao while Munster’s two wins have both been secured at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff.
Tickets for this season’s Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup showpiece matches at St James’ Park, Newcastle on 10 and 11 May 2019 are reported to be selling fast.
Image Credit: Wiki Commons
