‘World-class venue' to host 2027 Euro cup finals
European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) has announced the host city for the 2027 Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup finals weekend.
After a competitive tender process that saw seven bids from across six cities, the EPCR board awarded the 2027 finals to state-of-the-art 59 186-capacity OL Stadium, home to French football side Olympique Lyonnais.
'We are delighted Lyon will be the host city for the 2027 finals weekend,' said EPCR chairman Dominic McKay. 'Following so many expressions of interest from across the world and given the high standard of all bidders, the decision process was extensive and challenging. We have no doubt that Lyon will host an extraordinary weekend of rugby.
'OL Stadium is a world-class venue, and we are proud to be part of its sporting legacy, alongside incredible events such as the 2024 Olympics and 2023 Rugby World Cup, and to contribute to the city's rugby and sporting legacy'.
'French rugby is in an incredibly exciting place, and Lyon has a great commitment to nurturing the sport and inspiring future generations. It is also a great destination, with cultural and gastronomic highlights for visitors to enjoy. We look forward to welcoming rugby fans from across France and the rest of the world to join us in Lyon for our EPCR finals weekend in 2027.'
This year's Euro cup finals will be held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, with the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, hosting in 2026.
MORE: SA DNA runs deep in Champions Cup
The post 'World-class venue' to host 2027 Euro cup finals appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel.
Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
eNCA
10 hours ago
- eNCA
Mbappe fires France past Germany for Nations League bronze
STUTTGART - Kylian Mbappe bagged a goal and an assist as France beat Germany 2-0 in the Nations League bronze-medal match in Stuttgart on Sunday. Mbappe wove his magic in a heavily changed France squad. Germany dominated the opening half but Mbappe provided the breakthrough just before half-time, carving a shot through a crowded penalty box to bring up his 50th goal in France colours. Late in the second, with the hosts desperately looking for an equaliser, Mbappe snatched a poor Germany pass on the half-way line and rampaged forward, before setting up Michael Olise. Mbappe had not scored in open play for France for more than a year. After the match, the France captain hit back at criticism levelled against him, telling DAZN "Since I arrived in the international team, everyone always talks about me.... when they have an opportunity to talk bad, they talk bad. "They did it with all the great players in history in France and I'm the next. But I'm OK with that. I just try and do my job." France and Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni praised his club and international teammate Mbappe, saying "everyone in the team loves him. "He's a very important player for us and when he plays like he did today, it's just amazing." For Germany, who lost two straight straight matches for the first time since 2023, questions remain over how much they have truly improved under Julian Nagelsmann. Striker Niclas Fuellkrug lamented his side's wastefulness, telling DAZN: "if we had taken our first chance and scored, it could have been three or four nil for us." In the lead-up to Sunday's encounter, France coach Didier Deschamps admitted the Nations League clash with old rivals Germany "isn't the most important game for us," with a clear focus on next year's World Cup. Deschamps made eight changes from the semi-final loss to Spain, with only captain Mbappe, goalie Mike Maignan and midfield veteran Adrien Rabiot keeping their starting spots. Nagelsmann also rotated heavily, making four changes including bringing Fuellkrug back into the starting XI. The Germans had a wealth of chances in the opening half. Karim Adeyemi won a penalty but it was overturned by VAR for diving. Florian Wirtz hit the post. Mbappe struck just before half-time. The Real Madrid man collected a pass which floated over Joshua Kimmich's head, took a touch and hammered a shot home with his preferred right foot. Nagelsmann replaced rookie striker Nick Woltemade with Deniz Undav at half-time. The move seemed to have paid immediate dividends Undav had the ball in the net, but his effort was chalked off for a foul in the build-up. Germany dominated possession and field position, but that left them vulnerable on the break to France's lightning-fast forwards, led by Mbappe. Marcus Thuram hit the post on 58 minutes. Then Mbappe and substitute Olise, who plays in Germany for Bayern Munich, combined to seal the match for France. The French captain pounced on a poor Robin Koch clearance on the half-way line and ran goalwards, squaring for the onrushing Olise to tap home with six minutes remaining. Later on Sunday, reigning Nations League and Euros champions Spain face Portugal in Munich to decide this year's crown. dwi/pb/dmc
TimesLIVE
16 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Ogier edges Tanak to claim fifth Sardinia crown as Toyota charge into title fight
Sebastien Ogier clinched a record fifth Rally Italia Sardegna victory on Sunday, fending off Hyundai's Ott Tanak by just 7.9 seconds after a tense final stage in Sardinia. The French Toyota driver, alongside co-driver Vincent Landais, completed the 16-stage event in 3 hours, 34 minutes and 24.5 seconds to secure the team's third win of the 2025 season. Toyota's eight-times world champion Ogier was beaten by Tanak last year, who seized victory by a whisker. Hyundai's Tanak pushed hard in the final Wolf Power Stage but fell short, while Kalle Rovanpera completed a double podium for Toyota in third, 50.5 seconds behind Ogier. Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta rounded out a strong showing for Toyota, taking fourth and fifth respectively.
IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
Ballon d'Or 'should go to Champions League winner', says Ronaldo
Is Dembele the favourite for the Ballon d'Or? Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Ousmane Dembele brings the UEFA Champions League's trophy on Court Philippe-Chatrier on on day 9 at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris. Dembele has been backed by France teammate Kylian Mbappe to win the Ballon d'Or. Photo: Alain Jocard/AFP Image: Alain Jocard/AFP Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo said Saturday the individual honour should be awarded to a player who won the Champions League. Speaking ahead of Sunday's Nations League final in Munich between Portugal and Spain, the veteran said "trophies" should determine who wins the Ballon d'Or. "In my opinion, whoever wins it should be on a team that has won trophies. The Ballon d'Or winner should be in a team that has won the Champions League," the 40-year-old forward told reporters. First awarded in 1956 by French magazine France Football, the Ballon d'Or is awarded to the player considered the best over the previous season. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Paris Saint-Germain's 5-0 thumping of Inter Milan in the Champions League final last Saturday led to growing calls for Ousmane Dembele to win this season's gong. Spain starlet Lamine Yamal's superb display in Thursday's 5-4 Nations League semi-final win over France however had some arguing the teenager should be awarded the Ballon d'Or, which would make the 17-year-old the youngest winner in its history. France coach Didier Deschamps backed Dembele for the award, saying "considering the season Ousmane is having, he deserves it and that's all I wish for him". At a press conference in Stuttgart on Saturday, France captain Kylian Mbappe told reporters he backed Dembele. "Does anyone really need me to explain? Right now we're talking about Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele, but I'm voting for Dembele." Ronaldo said he "cannot tell you who deserves it" this season. Ronaldo's five wins is bettered only by Argentinian Lionel Messi, who has won the award eight times. The duo had a monopoly on the award for a decade from Ronaldo's first win in 2008 to his last in 2017. The current holder is Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri. AFP Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
