Cardiff Blues take on Toulon in the Amlin Challenge Cup final on Sunday, 3.00pm kick off, as they look to end the season on a high with a win against the French all stars.
The introduction this season of three Heineken Cup Pool runners-up at the Amlin Challenge Cup knock-out stages means this is the first Amlin Challenge Cup final to feature finalists who started the season in different ERC tournaments – Toulon in the Amlin Challenge Cup and Cardiff Blues in the Heineken Cup.
Speaking ahead of the match, Cardiff Blues Director of Rugby, David Young said,
“I think you would go a long way to beat the Heineken Cup semi final last season but if Sunday’s game is not a bigger match then it’s certainly equal to it.”
“It’s a European competition final and everyone is looking forward to it.”
“Toulon are an extremely strong side who finished second in the French league and have world stars across the board. They are a typical French team, in so much as they are strong up front with very good set piece but they also have a lot of flair behind.”
“However, I have confidence in our team who have performed outstandingly, especially toward the business end of the season.”
“We were disappointed not to reach the Magners League play offs, and I’m not saying that Munster was a game too far, however the players have had a few extra days rest and have come back refreshed.”
“It promised to be a great occasion and would be great if we could back with some silverware and end the season on a high.”
Sunday’s match, which kicks off at 3.00pm at Stade Velodrome, will be the first French-Welsh tournament final with the only non English or French team to play in a tournament final before Cardiff Blues was Pontypridd, who in 2002 were beaten by Sake Sharks.
Cardiff Blues will be taking over 500 fans to the final who have been superbly vocal on their travels, but with nearly 50,000 tickets sold the record for the tournament final attendance of 31,986, which was set in 1999 at Stade Gerland when Montferrand beat Bourgoin 35-16, has been smashed.
The Blues Supporters’ Club is taking over ‘O Brady’s’ for the weekend as Blues Supporters HQ. It is one of the biggest Irish bars in Marseilles and is just 10 minutes from the stadium on Avenue de Mazargues
For those who can’t travel to France, Cardiff Arms Park Clubhouse will be open for supporters to view the match.
