European Rugby has announced that 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.
Following a competitive tender process conducted in conjunction with The Sports Consultancy, EPCR’s Board awarded the prestigious weekend festival to Marseille, whose impressive bid was supported by AREMA, Ville de Marseille, Region Sud and Olympique de Marseille and in just under two years’ time, the atmospheric destination on the Cote d’Azur will become the fourth French city along with Bordeaux, Paris and Lyon to stage a European Cup final.
🥁Drum roll, please…
The host of the 2020 #ChampionsCup and #ChallengeCupRugby finals has been announced and it’s… MARSEILLE 🇫🇷
🏟️ We can’t wait to head to the iconic Stade de Marseille on 22 and 23 May, 2020! 🏉
Full story 👉https://t.co/E3OE6pa62f pic.twitter.com/BNAQEJbYCN
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) October 1, 2018
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 is widely regarded as The One to Win.
Commenting on the announcement, EPCR Director General, Vincent Gaillard, said: “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.
“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.”