New relocation for Racing 92. The Hauts-de-Seine club will not play in its Paris La Défense Arena room for the first day of the Champions Cup, the European Rugby Cup. On Saturday December 10 at 2 p.m., Racing will host the Irish from Leinster, the club of their future coach Stuart Lancaster, at the Océane stadium in Le Havre.
At the same time, in fact, the rapper Orelsan will perform in the Salle de la Défense. Concerts always having priority over rugby matches in this performance hall, the Ciel et Blancs will therefore go into exile in Le Havre for this home premiere. They had already played a Top 14 match there in March 2015 against Grenoble (34-29 victory).
For the following day, Racing 92 will travel to the English Harlequins on Sunday December 18 at 5.30 p.m. January 15, 2023 at 4:15 p.m. Before a final shock against Leinster, Saturday January 21 at 3:15 p.m. at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
The French Stadium in Johannesburg
The EPCR, organizer of these European Cups which are hosting South African teams for the first time, published this Friday all the schedules for the four group matches of the Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup. In this “small” European Cup, the Stade Français Paris will launch its competition on Friday December 9 at 9 p.m. in Jean-Bouin against the Italians of Benetton Rugby.
The Parisians will then inaugurate this curious European formula with a trip to South Africa, against the Lions franchise, on Friday December 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg, at an altitude of 1,700 meters. The return match against the Lions is scheduled for January 14 at 2 p.m. at Jean-Bouin, and the trip to Benetton Treviso on January 21 at 4:15 p.m.