The road to the 2024 London Finals at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the weekend of 24/25 May will become clearer as the knockout stage gets under way in early April and the clubs remaining in contention for silverware – including Aviron Bayonnais, Sale Sharks, Connacht Rugby and Ulster Rugby who have qualified from the Investec Champions Cup – have 11 EPCR titles between them, with five tournament winners also in the mix. EPCR Chairman, Dominic McKay, said: "Congratulations to all the clubs progressing into the Round of 16. The 'back-to-pools' format introduced this season was a great success, with great sporting interest and jeopardy all the way through the rounds creating remarkable games. "We are also thrilled with engagement by fans supporting their teams whether in stadia, online or on TV. We have seen a 38% increase in attendances at EPCR Challenge Cup matches with crowds of well over 13,000 at ASM Clermont Auvergne and Hollywoodbets Sharks home games, and a top attendance of 17,233 when Georgia's Black Lion hosted Clermont in Round 4. We are absolutely delighted with these figures as they demonstrate that the competition continues to have a very important place in the rugby landscape for fans, clubs and partners alike." The No 1-ranked club, Hollywoodbets Sharks from the United Rugby Championship, will be up against Zebre Parma in Durban on Sunday, 7 April, and No 2-ranked Gloucester Rugby, the leading club from the Gallagher Premiership, face Castres Olympique at Kingsholm on Friday, 5 April. On Saturday, 6 April, ASM Clermont Auvergne, three-time tournament winners and the highest-ranked club from the TOP 14, host the Toyota Cheetahs at Stade Marcel-Michelin, Benetton Rugby are at home against the Emirates Lions, Ospreys clash with Sale Sharks at the Brewery Field in Bridgend, and Edinburgh Rugby take on Aviron Bayonnais at the Hive Stadium. In addition to the Hollywoodbets Sharks v Zebre Parma tie on Sunday, 7 April, Ulster Rugby travel to face Montpellier Hérault Rugby, and Connacht are also in France for a head-to-head with Section Paloise at Stade du Hameau. **EPCR CHALLENGE CUP**
**Round of 16**
*(Pool stage rankings in brackets / All kick-offs local times)* **Friday 5 April**
**Match 2**: Gloucester Rugby (2) v Castres Olympique (15), Kingsholm (20.00)
*Viaplay-Premier Sports / beIN SPORTS / FloRugby* **Saturday 6 April**
**Match 4**: ASM Clermont Auvergne (4) v Toyota Cheetahs (13), Stade Marcel-Michelin (13.30)
*France TV / beIN SPORTS / SuperSport / FloRugby* **Match 3:** Benetton Rugby (3) v Emirates Lions (14), Stadio Comunale di Monigo (18.30)
[*epcrugby.tv*](http://epcrugby.tv) */ SuperSport / FloRugby* **Match 7**: Ospreys (7) v Sale Sharks (10), Brewery Field, Bridgend (20.00)
*S4C / FloRugby* **Match 8**: Edinburgh Rugby (8) v Aviron Bayonnais (9), Hive Stadium (20.00)
*Viaplay-Premier Sports / beIN SPORTS / FloRugby* **Sunday 7 April**
**Match 5**: Montpellier Hérault Rugby (5) v Ulster Rugby (12), GGL Stadium (13.30)
*beIN SPORTS / Viaplay-Premier Sports / FloRugby* **Match 1**: Hollywoodbets Sharks (1) v Zebre Parma (16), Hollywoodbets Kings Park (16.00)
*SuperSport / [epcrugby.tv](http://epcrugby.tv) / FloRugby* **Match 6**: Section Paloise (6) v Connacht Rugby (11), Stade du Hameau (18.30)
*beIN SPORTS / Viaplay-Premier Sports / FloRugby*

**Quarter-finals - 12/13/14 April**
QF 1: winner R16 1 v winner R16 8
QF 2: winner R16 2 v winner R16 7
QF 3: winner R16 3 v winner R16 6
QF 4: winner R16 4 v winner R16 5
***NB*** *The highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home venue advantage.* **Semi-finals - 3/4/5 May**
SF 1: winner QF 1 v winner QF 4
SF 2: winner QF 2 v winner QF 3
***NB*** *The matches will be played in Europe and the highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home venue advantage.* **2024 EPCR Challenge Cup final** - Friday, 24 May; Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London (20.00)

Wales will look to bounce back against Australia in the second Test after they fell to a 25-16 defeat in the opening Test at Allianz Stadium.