The EPCR have confirmed the dates, venues, kick-off times and TV coverage of the Challenge Cup Round of 16 fixtures.
Champions the Sharks have the opportunity to defend their crown after dropping down from the Investec Champions Cup.
Challenge Cup knockouts confirmed
However, they will first need to navigate their opening knockout fixture against Lyon as the road to the 2025 Cardiff Finals at the Principality Stadium on 23 May begins.
The Bulls, Bath Rugby and Racing 92 joined the Sharks who have qualified for the Challenge Cup last-16 from their seeding in the Investec Champions Cup pool stages.
Fans will be able to watch the action on Premier Sports in the UK and Ireland, beIN SPORTS in France, SuperSport in South Africa and FloRugby in the USA and Canada
Additional free-to-air coverage will be available in France on France Télévisions and S4C in Wales, as well as select matches available on EPCR’s OTT platform EPCRugby.TV, which is also the home exclusively for the EPCR Challenge Cup in Italy.
Champions Cup Round of 16 fixtures, kick-off times and broadcasters confirmed
The action will get underway on Friday, 4 April with Edinburgh hosting the Lions at Hive Stadium with the day’s second match also seeing Bath travel to the south of France to tackle Section Paloise at Stade du Hameau.
Saturday’s action get underway with Aviron Bayonnais hosting the Bulls at Stade Jean-Dauger.
Gloucester Rugby travel to three-time winners Montpellier Hérault Rugby for the day’s second game before Connacht Rugby welcomes Cardiff Rugby to Dexcom Stadium.
Perpignan and Racing 92 wrap up the day’s action at Stade Aimé Giral.
The final two matches will take place on Sunday as Ospreys host Scarlets at the Swansea.com Stadium before Lyon host the defending champion Sharks at the Matmut Stadium de Gerland.
Challenge Cup Round of 16 fixtures
(All kick-offs local time)
Friday 4 April
Edinburgh Rugby v Emirates Lions
Venue: Hive Stadium
Kick-off: 20:00
TV Channels: beIN SPORTS / EPCRugby.TV / FloRugby
Section Paloise v Bath Rugby
Venue: Stade du Hameau
Kick-off: 21:00
TV Channels: beIN SPORTS / EPCRugby.TV / FloRugby
Saturday 5 April
Aviron Bayonnais v Vodacom Bulls
Venue: Stade Jean-Dauger
Kick-off: 13:30
TV Channels: France TV / beIN SPORTS / SuperSport / EPCRugby.tv / FloRugby
Montpellier Hérault Rugby v Gloucester Rugby
Venue: GGL Stadium
Kick-off: 18:30
TV Channels: beIN SPORTS / EPCRugby.TV / FloRugby
Connacht Rugby v Cardiff Rugby
Venue: Dexcom Stadium
Kick-off: 20:00
TV Channels: PremierSports / beIN Sports / FloRugby
Perpignan v Racing 92
Venue: Stade Aimé Giral
Kick-off: 21:00
TV Channels: beIN SPORTS / EPCRugby.TV / FloRugby
Sunday 6 April
Ospreys v Scarlets
Venue: Swansea.com Stadium
Kick-off: 17:30
TV Channels: beIN SPORTS / SuperSport / epcrugby.tv / FloRugby
Lyon Olympique Universitaire v Hollywoodbets Sharks
Venue: Matmut Stadium de Gerland
Kick-off: 18:30
TV Channels: beIN SPORTS / SuperSport / epcrugby.tv / FloRugby
Quarter-finals – 11/12/13 April
QF 1: winner R16 1 v winner R16 8
QF 2: winner R16 2 v winner R16 7
QF 3: winner R16 3 v winner R16 6
QF 4: winner R16 4 v winner R16 5
The highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home venue advantage.
Semi-finals – 2/3/4 May
SF 1: winner QF 1 v winner QF 4
SF 2: winner QF 2 v winner QF 3
The matches will be played in Europe and where relevant the highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home venue advantage.
2025 EPCR Challenge Cup Final – Friday, 23 May; Principality Stadium Cardiff (20.00 local time)
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/challenge-cup-round-of-16-fixtures-kick-off-times-and-broadcasters-confirmed
