Connacht to face Northampton in play-offs

Connacht will travel to play Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens in the Champions Cup play-off semi-final on Saturday, May 20 (4pm).

Victory for Stade Francais over Gloucester in tonight’s Challenge Cup final saw Northampton claim England’s spot in the play-offs.

The winners of the Northampton v Connacht clash will have home advantage in the play-off final against either Stade Francais or Cardiff Blues.

Connacht supporters travelling to Northampton for the game are advised to purchase tickets directly from Northampton Saints here. There is no official ‘away’ section but the Connacht Clan Supporters Club have been purchasing tickets in Terrace D.

Friday 19 May

Play-off 2: Stade Français Paris v Cardiff Blues, Stade Jean Bouin (18.00)

Saturday 20 May

Play-off 1: Northampton Saints v Connacht Rugby, Franklin’s Gardens (16.00)

Play-off Final – Friday 26 May
Winner Play-off 1 v winner Play-off 2 (19.45)
The winner of Play-off 1 will have home advantage
Sky Sports

The following clubs have already secured their places in next season’s tournament:

Aviva Premiership - Wasps, Exeter Chiefs, Saracens, Leicester Tigers, Bath Rugby, Harlequins

Guinness PRO12 - Munster Rugby, Leinster Rugby, Scarlets, Ospreys, Ulster Rugby, Glasgow Warriors, Benetton Rugby

TOP 14 - La Rochelle, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Montpellier, RC Toulon, Castres Olympique, Racing 92

The remaining 18 clubs from the Aviva Premiership, the Guinness PRO12 and the TOP 14 which have not qualified for the Champions Cup will play in the 2017/18 Challenge Cup. The 19^th and 20^th places in next season’s Challenge Cup have been secured by Russia’s Enisei-STM and Krasny Yar who will play in tomorrow’s Continental Shield final at the BT Murrayfield complex.