The Scarlets’ victory over Cardiff Blues on Wednesday night means the Dragons will contest the Heineken Cup 24th place playoff in Italy on Friday, 29 May against the third placed Italian side (9pm local time).
The Men of Gwent will face either Viadana, Calvisano or Benetton Treviso.
The top four Italian teams will play two-leg semi-finals to get through to the final of the Italian Super 10. Top finisher Viadana faces fourth place Rovigo, whilst second place Treviso face third place Calvisano.
The finalists will gain automatic Heineken Cup 2009/2010 qualification.
The losers of the semis will be ranked according to where they finished during the regular season and whichever losing semi-finalist finished higher in the league will face the Dragons in the Heineken Cup play-off.
Because Viadana have finished the regular league in the top spot, if they do not make it past their semi final against fourth place Rovigo, they will automatically finish third and face the Dragons on the 29 May.
If Viadana beat Rovigo, then the Dragons will face the loser of the match between Calvisano and Treviso.
The semi-finals will be played on the following dates
ITALIAN SUPER 10 SEMI FINALS
Semi-final First Leg
Saturday 16 May 2009 – 20.00 (Local Time)
Rovigo v Viadana
Sunday 17 May 2009 – 20.00 (Local Time)
Rugby Calvisano v Benetton Treviso
Semi-final Second Leg
Saturday 23 May 2009 – 20.00 (Local Time)
Viadana v Rovigo
Sunday 24 May 2009 – 20.00 (Local Time)
Benetton Treviso v Rugby Calvisano
HEINEKEN CUP PLAYOFF
Friday 29 May 21:00 (Local Time)
Heineken Cup 24th place playoff
3rd placed Italian team v Newport Gwent Dragons
Venue TBC
The Men of Gwent will face either Viadana, Calvisano or Benetton Treviso.
The top four Italian teams will play two-leg semi-finals to get through to the final of the Italian Super 10. Top finisher Viadana faces fourth place Rovigo, whilst second place Treviso face third place Calvisano.
The finalists will gain automatic Heineken Cup 2009/2010 qualification.
The losers of the semis will be ranked according to where they finished during the regular season and whichever losing semi-finalist finished higher in the league will face the Dragons in the Heineken Cup play-off.
Because Viadana have finished the regular league in the top spot, if they do not make it past their semi final against fourth place Rovigo, they will automatically finish third and face the Dragons on the 29 May.
If Viadana beat Rovigo, then the Dragons will face the loser of the match between Calvisano and Treviso.
The semi-finals will be played on the following dates
ITALIAN SUPER 10 SEMI FINALS
Semi-final First Leg
Saturday 16 May 2009 – 20.00 (Local Time)
Rovigo v Viadana
Sunday 17 May 2009 – 20.00 (Local Time)
Rugby Calvisano v Benetton Treviso
Semi-final Second Leg
Saturday 23 May 2009 – 20.00 (Local Time)
Viadana v Rovigo
Sunday 24 May 2009 – 20.00 (Local Time)
Benetton Treviso v Rugby Calvisano
HEINEKEN CUP PLAYOFF
Friday 29 May 21:00 (Local Time)
Heineken Cup 24th place playoff
3rd placed Italian team v Newport Gwent Dragons
Venue TBC
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