The 2013/14 Heineken Cup season has already thrown up some brutal encounters and Sky Sports will be bringing fans all the action from the semi-finals as Europe’s finest take centre stage.
Another bumper European weekend lies in store on April 26-27 as four sides battle to make it to the final showdown at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on May 24.
Saracens are the sole representative from the Aviva Premiership after they held off a late fightback to win 17-15 at Ulster in the quarter-finals thanks to two tries from winger Chris Ashton.
The London club have raced to a 10-point lead in the league, while they have only lost once in this season’s Heineken Cup and will be desperate to become the first English team to win Europe’s elite tournament in seven years.
Their opponents, Clermont Auvergne, saw off Saracens’ Premiership rivals Leicester 22-16 in a fascinating last-eight encounter.
These two lock horns on Saturday from what should be a packed Twickenham Stadium.
Favourites Toulon, meanwhile, halted Brian O’Driscoll’s European dream as they saw off Leinster 29-14 in the quarter-finals to maintain their Heineken Cup defence.
There could be a repeat of last year’s final, which saw the French club edge fellow Top 14 side Clermont by a single point, but first up is a tough tie on Sunday against Munster, who registered the most impressive result of the last round as they ran in six tries to demolish Toulouse 47-23.
Alongside the Heineken Cup, the semi-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup also takes place with the four teams left in the competition all from England.
Northampton Saints and Harlequins meet in the first semi-final on Friday, followed by London Wasps against Bath on Sunday, all live on Sky Sports.
This weekend’s European rugby semi-finals take place following a recent compromise deal between Sky Sports and BT Sport for TV coverage of the new European club competitions which succeed the Heineken and Amlin Cups in 2014/15.
Sky Sports’ live coverage of the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup is presented by Alex Payne and James Gemmill, alongside regular analysts Will Greenwood, Scott Quinnell, Paul Wallace and Dewi Morris.
Leading the commentary teams will be Miles Harrison, Mark Robson, Martin Gillingham, Stuart Barnes, Ieuan Evans and Scott Hastings.
If you miss any of the live action, highlights of the whole weekend’s action will be shown in European Rugby Special on Sunday evening at 8.00pm.
Live coverage can be viewed in a variety of ways by Sky Sports customers on all devices via Sky Go, as well as via the Heineken Cup Events Centre.
For further information about the Heineken Cup, visit the official website or the Sky Sports rugby union website.
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