Twickenham could stage this season's Champions Cup final in October

Twickenham is under consideration to stage this season’s re-scheduled Heineken Champions Cup final in October, Telegraph Sport understands.

European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) confirmed on Thursday it had abandoned plans for the final to be hosted in Marseille this year because of the uncertainties created by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The French city is now due to stage the final next year, with Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London now due to host the 2022 final.

EPCR is now assessing venues for both this year’s Champions and Challenge Cup finals, and it is understood that Twickenham, along with Bristol’s Ashton Gate Stadium and Wasps’ Ricoh Arena are now in the frame.

The results of the quarter-finals, which are scheduled for both tournaments on the weekend of Sept 18 to 20, will be one of the key factors in deciding the new venue for the final as EPCR want to minimise travel demands.

The restrictions on crowd attendances in the various jurisdictions will also be taken into account, with a late decision expected.

With the Premiership guaranteed at least one semi-final representative, with Exeter entertaining Northampton Saints in the quarter-finals, a victory for Saracens over Leinster in Dublin would also significantly increase the likelihood that the final will be held in England.

One source said: “This season is about meeting our obligations to fulfil our fixtures and to do so we must be able to flexible and leave the decision-making process as late as possible to select a location for the final that minimises travel and allows as many people as possible to attend.

“It may be we have to leave it until the semi-final stage, depending on how the various lockdown restrictions are eased in the respective jurisdictions.

“The stadium hire at Twickenham may be an issue, but if a crowd is possible then it has the advantage of being a safe venue and also accessible in terms of travel from Ireland and France.

“Ashton Gate and the Ricoh Arena have already been assessed previously and are also under consideration. We just have to make the best of it.”

The remainder of the quarter-final fixtures sees four-time winners Toulouse host Ulster and Clermont Auvergne face Racing 92.

"With tens of thousands of fans scheduled to travel to the south of France, the Board of EPCR and the local organising committee have agreed that insufficient safeguards are currently in place during the public health crisis to stage two high-profile matches at the 67,000-capacity Stade Vélodrome," EPCR said in a statement.

"As a consequence, EPCR is currently working with its shareholder leagues and unions to secure an alternative venue or venues for the two finals."

EPCR hopes to confirm the exact dates, venues, kick-off times and TV coverage of the quarter-finals by the end of the month.

"As is now customary during the pandemic, the matches will be subject to government guidelines with the health and welfare of players, club staff, match officials, supporters and the wider rugby community to the fore," the statement added.