Cardiff's Millennium Stadium to host Heineken Cup final for record seventh time

Cardiff will also play host to Amlin Challenge Cup

The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff has been announced as the venue for the Heineken Cup final in 2014, with Arms Park hosting the showpiece of the Amlin Challenge Cup.

It will be the seventh time that the city has hosted the final of Europe’s top club competition since its introduction in 1995.

The final was expected to be played in Paris until the French Rugby Federation withdrew the bid due an unclear schedule at the Stade de France.

Cardiff last hosted the Heineken Cup final in 2011, when Leinster beat Northampton Saints 33-22 in a memorable encounter.

The Amlin Challenge Cup, Europe’s second tier competition, will also be held in the Welsh capital at the 12, 500 seater Cardiff Arms Park, which is situated next door to the Millennium stadium.

The finals will take place on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 May, and Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Roger Lewis admits he is thrilled by the news: "I am absolutely delighted to announce that the WRU has been successful in its bid to host the 2014 European Rugby Cup final at the Millennium Stadium," Lewis said.

"Team Wales has come through and I would like to thank the Welsh Government for their support and Cardiff City Council for their support.

"For all the fans in Wales we are going to have the very best of club rugby here in Wales in 2014 coming to Cardiff for a record seventh time.”