Champions Cup Qualification 2017/18

I would assume they would try to avoid playoffs clashing with the semis from the relevant leagues.
But with 8 games across all the competitions over the weekend and various broadcasters having their say, who knows what might end up happening.

Actually Premiership semis are confirmed as well: Saturday 1445 and 1730 (as salmson reckoned they would be).
www.premiershiprugby.com/matchcentre/fixtures/fixtures.php
So the playoff is probably odds-on to be on Sunday then.
That said, since they haven't avoided clashes between the Pro12 and Premiership semis (they have the last few seasons, though maybe just by coincidence), maybe they won't bother when it comes to the playoff either.
You can be certain the English playoff won't clash with the Premiership games. So most likely Sunday, with a chance of Friday night or Saturday night.

EDIT: Also the Pro12 press release says the Saturday game is on Sky but doesn't confirm if the Friday one is. If it's not on Sky then fixture clashes will probably be even less of a consideration.

Yeah, I think I might have just read that press release wrong ...
With those fixture times confirmed, we might even get an early announcement of the playoff fixtures from EPCR I suppose (though maybe that's too much to expect).

I hadn't considered it before as they're a good way behind but now I look at the table aren't Newcastle still just about in the mix as well?
They're 7 points behind seventh place but they have Worcester and Bristol to come so it's not entirely inconceivable they might get 10 points. Gloucester could easily lose their last two and, with Quins and Saints playing each other, one or other of them could lose twice too.
If Falcons get the TBP on Friday night and Quins lose at home to Wasps (who could do with a win to avoid a showdown with Saracens for a home semi on the last day), they'll be in the hunt.

salmson wrote: a win for either N/hampton or Quins when they play each other on the last day puts one of them more than 10 points clear of them.

Yeah, lot of things need to go their way, but bookies have Wasps favourites in the Stoop (and Worcester, Exeter and Bath will be favourites too), so by Sunday the table could look something like:

6 - Northampton 48
7 - Harlequins 47
8 - Gloucester 46
9 - Newcastle 45

(OK I've been generous to them with bonus points - Quins would probably manage a LBP and five for Falcons is far from guaranteed)
At that rate Gloucester could beat Exeter on the last day and still end up behind Newcastle on games won, so a TBP at Five Point Gate would see them 7th.

Other question I suppose is do we want to play Newcastle?
On paper, they sound like a good option. On plastic maybe not so much.
Would definitely prefer them to Quins or Northampton. The memory of one hammering in Kingston Park doesn't haunt me as much as the three one score defeats in Kingsholm.

A bit of a rundown on the games involving potential playoffs opponents over the weekend:
www.connachtclan.com/news/38-general-new...enders-a-vague-guide
Just in case anyone is bored and fancies watching nine rugby matches or so ...

If Newcastle do end up getting to the playoffs, their semi will take place on the rugby league Magic Weekend, where every team in the league play in St James' Park over two days.
Accommodation not to be had for love nor money on Saturday night.
You would assume in that case they would play the game on Friday.