On 23 May next, the Stade Vélodrome will become the fifth stadium in France to stage a final of European club rugby’s blue riband tournament, and the showpiece match will follow the Challenge Cup decider which generated a record final crowd of 48,990 when it was last staged at the famous Marseille venue in 2010.

More than 45,000 tickets have already been sold for the two 2020 finals and EPCR Ambassador and former European Cup winner, Thierry Dusautoir, was present at a Season Launch in the city on Wednesday, 13 November to share his experiences of playing in elite European competition.

“If a French club reaches either the final of the Heineken Champions Cup or the Challenge Cup, I’m sure they’ll have the overwhelming support of the local Marseille fans as national pride is particularly strong in the region,” said Dusautoir.

“The Heineken Champions Cup is exceptionally difficult to win and it always presents a massive challenge for every club. But it’s a superb springboard for players to demonstrate their talent and I’m expecting the TOP 14 clubs to make an impact this season.”

The Marseille event also saw the confirmation of a partnership between tournament organisers, EPCR, and PRO D2 club, Provence Rugby, aimed at integrating the club’s membership with the Finals Weekend and leaving a strong rugby legacy in the regional community.

EPCR Chief Executive, Vincent Gaillard, said: “Marseille is a fitting destination for the 25th final of the Heineken Champions Cup and we look forward to fans enjoying an outstanding rugby experience next May. We are ready for an exceptional season and a Finals Weekend that will give a big boost to the region economically and socially, especially through this partnership with Provence Rugby.”

Chairman of Provence Rugby, Denis Philipon, said: “This season’s Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup Finals Weekend will be an outstanding event not just for the city of Marseille, but for the entire region of Provence. This is further evidence of a strong connection between the region and the great game of rugby, and we are delighted to have established this partnership with EPCR. The objective for us is to see the entire Provence Rugby family – our players, our academy, our 30 feeder clubs, and also our season ticket holder and our sponsors – coming together to support the Finals Weekend.”

The 25th season of the Heineken Champions Cup kicks off on Friday evening when Gloucester Rugby take on four-time tournament winners, Toulouse, at Kingsholm live on BT Sport.

Up to 100,000 fans are expected to attend the EPCR’s Finals Weekend in Marseille next May which will bring the 25th anniversary season of the Heineken Champions Cup to a dramatic conclusion.