Knockouts.

Ahead of the much-anticipated Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup knockout stages, EPCR has announced the dates, kick-off times and TV coverage for the semi-final matches in both tournaments.

The winners of the Leinster Rugby v Saracens and the ASM Clermont Auvergne v Racing 92 Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals will meet in the semi-final on Saturday, 26 September live on BT Sport with additional free-to-air coverage on Channel 4 and Virgin Media.

The second semi-final, also on Saturday, 26 September and also live on BT Sport, will feature the winners of the Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints and Toulouse v Ulster Rugby quarter-finals.

On an exceptional basis to facilitate the conclusion of the season, EPCR have confirmed that the highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home venue advantage in the semi-finals. (See permutations below)

In the Challenge Cup, the winners of the Bristol Bears v Dragons and Bordeaux-Bègles v Edinburgh Rugby quarter-finals will play one another on Friday, 25 September while the winners of the RC Toulon v Scarlets and Leicester Tigers v Castres Olympique quarter-finals will meet on Saturday, 26 September.

The highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home venue advantage as per the traditional Challenge Cup format.

Non-rights media (print, radio, online and photographic) should note that accreditation requests for this season’s Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup semi-final matches will be managed by the home clubs.

HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP SEMI-FINALS – Saturday 26 September

SF 1: Winner Leinster Rugby/Saracens v winner ASM Clermont Auvergne/Racing 92
Kick-off: 13.00 UK-Irish time or 14.00 French time
TV: BT Sport/Channel 4/Virgin Media/beIN SPORTS/FR 2

SF 2: Winner Exeter Chiefs/Northampton Saints v winner Toulouse/Ulster Rugby
Kick-off: 15.30 UK-Irish time or 16.30 French time
TV: BT Sport/FR 2/beIN SPORTS

Semi-final 1
If Leinster Rugby (ranked No 1) and ASM Clermont Auvergne (ranked No 4) win their quarter-finals, Leinster will have home venue advantage
If Leinster (ranked No 1) and Racing 92 (ranked No 5) win their quarter-finals, Leinster will have home venue advantage
If ASM Clermont Auvergne (ranked No 4) and Saracens (ranked No 8) win their quarter-finals, Clermont will have home venue advantage
If Racing 92 (ranked No 5) and Saracens (ranked No 8) win their quarter-finals, Racing will have home venue advantage

Semi-final 2
If Exeter Chiefs (ranked No 2) and Toulouse (ranked No 3) win their quarter-finals, Exeter will have home venue advantage
If Exeter Chiefs (ranked No 2) and Ulster Rugby (ranked No 6) win their quarter-finals, Exeter will have home venue advantage
If Toulouse (ranked No 3) and Northampton Saints (ranked No 7) win their quarter-finals, Toulouse will have home venue advantage
If Ulster Rugby (ranked No 6) and Northampton Saints (ranked No 7) win their quarter-finals, Ulster will have home venue advantage

CHALLENGE CUP SEMI-FINALS

Friday 25 September
SF 2: Winner Bristol Bears/Dragons v winner Bordeaux-Bègles/Edinburgh Rugby
Kick-off: 19.45 UK time or 20.45 French time
TV: BT Sport/beIN SPORTS

Saturday 26 September
SF 1: Winner RC Toulon/Scarlets v winner Leicester Tigers/Castres Olympique
Kick-off: 20.00 UK time or 21.00 French time
TV: BT Sport/FR 4/beIN SPORTS/S4C

Semi-final 1
If RC Toulon (ranked No 1) and Leicester Tigers (ranked No 4) win their quarter-finals, Toulon will have home venue advantage
If RC Toulon (ranked No 1) and Castres Olympique (ranked No 5) win their quarter-finals, Toulon will have home venue advantage
If Leicester Tigers (ranked No 4) and Scarlets (ranked No 8) win their quarter-finals, Leicester will have home venue advantage
If Castres Olympique (ranked No 5) and Scarlets (ranked No 8) win their quarter-finals, Castres will have home venue advantage

Semi-final 2
If Bristol Bears (ranked No 2) and Bordeaux-Bègles (ranked No 3) win their quarter-finals, Bristol will have home venue advantage
If Bristol Bears (ranked No 2) and Edinburgh Rugby (ranked No 6) win their quarter-finals, Bristol will have home venue advantage
If Bordeaux-Bègles (ranked No 3) and Dragons (ranked No 7) win their quarter-finals, Bordeaux-Bègles will have home venue advantage
If Edinburgh Rugby (ranked No 6) and Dragons (ranked No 7) win their quarter-finals, Edinburgh will have home venue advantage