Champions Cup semi-final venues

Peregrine

I was wondering if someone could explain this a bit further to me.

The semi-final matches will be played at venues designated by EPCR, but the following clubs will have home country advantage in their respective semi-final matches:

So, the EPCR choses the venues? And it won't be the team's home venue? How much of a say do the clubs and the unions have a say in it?

If an Irish team gets a home semi-final is it safe to assume that it will always be in Lansdowne Road? Assuming EPCR don't end up putting it in a GAA stadium or the grounds of one of the other provinces.

phog

If an Irish province get a home SF you can put your house on it that it will be played in the Aviva

awec

You can't play a semi in your actual home ground, you pick a ground in your own country. I think designated venue means venues that meet the criteria.

Larbre34

I cant recall a minimum capacity requirement, but Connacht could play in Thomond Park safely enough, should it arise.

As regards Munster, it wouldnt be ready this year, but they should seek to designate Páirc Uí Chaoimh for any home semi in subsequent years. Great showpiece for the RWC bid and a huge winner for the competition and the province having a 48,000 home crowd in the provincial capital.

irishbucsfan

Larbre34 wrote: »

I cant recall a minimum capacity requirement, but Connacht could play in Thomond Park safely enough, should it arise.

As regards Munster, it wouldnt be ready this year, but they should seek to designate Páirc Uí Chaoimh for any home semi in subsequent years. Great showpiece for the RWC bid and a huge winner for the competition and the province having a 48,000 home crowd in the provincial capital.

It's something around 17,000 I believe, I seem to remember the Ravenhill redevelopment brought it over the threshold, at least under the old rules.

Peregrine

Larbre34 wrote: »

As regards Munster, it wouldnt be ready this year, but they should seek to designate Páirc Uí Chaoimh for any home semi in subsequent years. Great showpiece for the RWC bid and a huge winner for the competition and the province having a 48,000 home crowd in the provincial capital.

This is precisely what got me curious. The PUC thread over in Cork City had a discussion on that.

I think we can safely Munster will play all Pro12, CC pool and probably home QF matches in Thomond but I was thinking of the chances of PUC being used in a situation where they can't use Thomond (i.e. a home semi).

irishbucsfan

Peregrine wrote: »

This is precisely what got me curious. The PUC thread over in Cork City had a discussion on that.

I think we can safely Munster will play all Pro12, CC pool and probably home QF matches in Thomond but I was thinking of the chances of PUC being used in a situation where they can't use Thomond (i.e. a home semi).

It'd be unlikely the IRFU would want a game played in a stadium they don't own if the Aviva is available.

CIARAN_BOYLE

irishbucsfan wrote: »

It'd be unlikely the IRFU would want a game played in a stadium they don't own if the Aviva is available.

Especially when there is something like €500,000 in venue fee to the owners of the selected venue. That said I can understand Munster wanting PUC.

phog

I can't see Munster wanting PUC over The Aviva, most of the Munster team will have played in the Aviva at some stage in their lives but more importantly I can't see the IRFU allowing it either. The only way I'd see it would be if two Irish provinces were at home and there was a doubt about the pitch in the Aviva holding up for the 2nd game.

irishbucsfan

phog wrote: »

I can't see Munster wanting PUC over The Aviva, most of the Munster team will have played in the Aviva at some stage in their lives but more importantly I can't see the IRFU allowing it either. The only way I'd see it would be if two Irish provinces were at home and there was a doubt about the pitch in the Aviva holding up for the 2nd game.

Plus we don't want our beloved garrison game being defiled in a place like that

Diabhal Beag

PUC will just about be potentially ready for Munster final this year so I don't think it will feasibly be ready to be used as an option.

thomond2006

phog wrote: »

I can't see Munster wanting PUC over The Aviva, most of the Munster team will have played in the Aviva at some stage in their lives but more importantly I can't see the IRFU allowing it either. The only way I'd see it would be if two Irish provinces were at home and there was a doubt about the pitch in the Aviva holding up for the 2nd game.

For supporters transport links to Dublin are better from Limerick to Dublin too.

Larbre34

thomond2006 wrote: »

For supporters transport links to Dublin are better from Limerick to Dublin too.

True. Daft eh?

RuckingSwimmer

phog wrote: »

If an Irish province get a home SF you can put your house on it that it will be played in the Aviva

Does the Aviva count as a home ground for Leinster? Will they be able to play a home semi final there or will they have to go to Thomond Park or Kingspan?

P_1

RuckingSwimmer wrote: »

Does the Aviva count as a home ground for Leinster? Will they be able to play a home semi final there or will they have to go to Thomond Park or Kingspan?

RDS is Leinster's designated Home Ground. This means Lansdowne is available as a semi venue

Peregrine

RuckingSwimmer wrote: »

Does the Aviva count as a home ground for Leinster? Will they be able to play a home semi final there or will they have to go to Thomond Park or Kingspan?

No, it doesn't. Leinster played the 2011 semi-final in Lansdowne Road.

snotboogie

thomond2006 wrote: »

For supporters transport links to Dublin are better from Limerick to Dublin too.

That would be a fierce inconvenience altogether

daithi7

thomond2006 wrote: »

For SOME supporters transport links to Dublin are better from Limerick to Dublin too. AND THESE SUPPORTERS ALREADY HAVE ALL THE EUROPEAN CUP TIES IN THEIR SMALL CITY, BUT YET SOME OF THEM ARE SO ONE EYED THAT THEY CANNOT SEE (OR GOD FORBID ACKNOWLEDGE) THE MERIT OF HOSTING A EUROPEAN SEMI FINAL IN THE BIGGEST CITY IN THE PROVINCE SO THAT HALF THEIR FELLOW SUPPORTERS DON'T HAVE TO UNNECESSARILY TRAVEL 440kms TO SEE THEIR PROVINCE IN A EUROPEAN CUP GAME

fixed that one for you. You're welcome!!

CatFromHue

Would the GAA let PUC host a rugby game?

Anyway I thought it wasn't meant to be ready until June, even if it was ready much earlier I really can't see the GAA allowing the first game there to be a rugby one.

Peregrine

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

PUC will just about be potentially ready for Munster final this year so I don't think it will feasibly be ready to be used as an option.

CatFromHue wrote: »

Would the GAA let PUC host a rugby game?

Anyway I thought it wasn't meant to be ready until June, even if it was ready much earlier I really can't see the GAA allowing the first game there to be a rugby one.

It won't be finished until June but I wasn't thinking about this year at all, to be honest. Just thinking out loud of the possibility after its construction, really.

CatFromHue

Fair enough, but would the GAA let Munster use it?

CatFromHue

CatFromHue wrote: »

Fair enough, but would the GAA let Munster use it?

They might but you need 18 month's notice pretty much, because of Congress and voting to allow it and all that

Squidgy Black

CatFromHue wrote: »

Fair enough, but would the GAA let Munster use it?

For a large fee they might

CatFromHue

A good chunk of the GAA members voted to not all Croke Park host rugby games even though there would have been a large fee in it for them so I dunno if money will come into it that much.

If it takes 18 months, which makes no sense to me, I can't see it ever happening.

Peregrine

CatFromHue wrote: »

Fair enough, but would the GAA let Munster use it?

It's a good question. Is it up to the GAA or Cork County Board?

It's worth bearing in mind that the Cork County Board voted 10-0 against letting other sports use Croke Park. But that was 15 years ago and you'd think their opinions will have changed a little — especially if there's money in it for them. Also when you consider that PUC is listed in the RWC bid. If they were okay with PUC being used for RWC — for a fee — then I can't imagine them being opposed to it being used for a CC semi-final for a fee.

I'm not saying it could happen though. Munster and IRFU will have to want for it to happen and I'm not sure they do.

irishbucsfan

CatFromHue wrote: »

A good chunk of the GAA members voted to not all Croke Park host rugby games even though there would have been a large fee in it for them so I dunno if money will come into it that much.

If it takes 18 months, which makes no sense to me, I can't see it ever happening.

Well of course money comes into it. It's a huge part of it. It's also the reason the IRFU would never do it.

snotboogie

irishbucsfan wrote: »

CatFromHue wrote: »

A good chunk of the GAA members voted to not all Croke Park host rugby games even though there would have been a large fee in it for them so I dunno if money will come into it that much.

If it takes 18 months, which makes no sense to me, I can't see it ever happening.

Well of course money comes into it.  It's a huge part of it.  It's also the reason the IRFU would never do it.

I think an agreement between the IRFU/Munster and the Cork County Board/GAA for three games a year would be a great idea. It would solve the issue of Munster essentially completely ignoring Cork and the issue of PUC lying totally empty for huge parts of the year. They could have one group game from the Champions Cup, the Leinster home game from the Pro 12 and the option for one more later in the year (whether that be a Champions Cup knockout or a pro 12 semi or the option to roll over to the next year), in other words use PUC like Leinster use the Aviva.

I know people jump to write this off but in terms of Irish rugby, Cork has been completely left out in the cold. Despite the city and county's enormous contribution to the Munster team (past and present) and the huge fan base in the city, Cork is left with a max of four (sometimes 3) home games a year, usually the four least attractive fixtures (granted not the case this year) and never a home derby or a European game. It sucks being a rugby fan in Cork....

Cookiemunster

snotboogie wrote: »

I think an agreement between the IRFU/Munster and the Cork County Board/GAA for three games a year would be a great idea. It would solve the issue of Munster essentially completely ignoring Cork and the issue of PUC lying totally empty for huge parts of the year. They could have one group game from the Champions Cup, the Leinster home game from the Pro 12 and the option for one more later in the year (whether that be a Champions Cup knockout or a pro 12 semi or the option to roll over to the next year).

I know people jump to write this off but in terms of Irish rugby, Cork has been completely left out in the cold. Despite the city and county's enormous contribution to the Munster team (past and present) and the huge fan base in the city, Cork is left with a max of four home games a year, usually the four least attractive fixtures (granted not the case this year) and never a home derby or a European game. It sucks being a rugby fan in Cork....

It's Corks own fault it doesn't get any big matches. MR wanted to expand Musgrave to 18K around the same time that Thomond was being expanded, but Cork city council shot down their plans, while Limerick city council bent over backwards to facilitate Thomonds expansion. So ye are now stuck with a 9k capacity stadium with no big games.

snotboogie

Cookiemunster wrote: »

snotboogie wrote: »

I think an agreement between the IRFU/Munster and the Cork County Board/GAA for three games a year would be a great idea. It would solve the issue of Munster essentially completely ignoring Cork and the issue of PUC lying totally empty for huge parts of the year. They could have one group game from the Champions Cup, the Leinster home game from the Pro 12 and the option for one more later in the year (whether that be a Champions Cup knockout or a pro 12 semi or the option to roll over to the next year).

I know people jump to write this off but in terms of Irish rugby, Cork has been completely left out in the cold. Despite the city and county's enormous contribution to the Munster team (past and present) and the huge fan base in the city, Cork is left with a max of four home games a year, usually the four least attractive fixtures (granted not the case this year) and never a home derby or a European game. It sucks being a rugby fan in Cork....

It's Corks own fault it doesn't get any big matches. MR wanted to expand Musgrave to 18K around the same time that Thomond was being expanded, but Cork city council shot down their plans, while Limerick city council bent over backwards to facilitate Thomonds expansion. So ye are now stuck with a 9k capacity stadium with no big games.

Link?

Edit I did some digging around myself as I find it hard to believe Munster would have that cash after going into huge debt with Thomond. All I can find is forum posts. It seems that Munster wanted to develop Musgrave park to 12k (only 2k more than the current capacity) and they planned to finance it by building and selling apartments on the grounds of Musgrave Park. CCC approved the development of Musgrave Park but rejected the the apartments being built on ground zoned for recreation, which was probably for the best since this was pre crash.

Would be interested if you could provide something more substantial.

Quint2010

If it was a Leinster Munster semi then surely Croke Park would be considered again?

Bridge93

If Munster were to draw Connacht in the quarters what chance is there if it being moved to a bigger ground? The talk is Leinster could be going to the Aviva so was curious if there was a guaranteed 50,000 sell out would the IRFU want it at the Aviva too?

P_1

Potential venues based on the teams still in the hunt

Lansdowne Road:
Leinster, Munster, Connacht

Croke Park:
Leinster v Munster?

Lyon/St Ettienne/Montpellier:
Clermont, Montpellier

Twickenham/Villa Park/Milton Keynes:
Saracens, Wasps

Toulouse:
Toulouse

Murrayfield/Ibrox:
Glasgow

Marseille:
Toulon

circos

Quint2010 wrote: »

If it was a Leinster Munster semi then surely Croke Park would be considered again?

It was only Croke park because Lansdowne was being redeveloped at the time. I doubt the IRFU would want to share the cash grab with the GAA.

awec

Bridge93 wrote: »

If Munster were to draw Connacht in the quarters what chance is there if it being moved to a bigger ground? The talk is Leinster could be going to the Aviva so was curious if there was a guaranteed 50,000 sell out would the IRFU want it at the Aviva too?

I'm sure Munster would argue very strongly for a Munster v Connacht game to be in Thomond.

On the other hand the IRFU might say that you owe us a tonne of money so get your arses up the M7 pronto.

johnnyryan89

Bridge93 wrote: »

If Munster were to draw Connacht in the quarters what chance is there if it being moved to a bigger ground? The talk is Leinster could be going to the Aviva so was curious if there was a guaranteed 50,000 sell out would the IRFU want it at the Aviva too?

Slim I'd say, Munster vs Ulster was played in Thomond Park when they met in the quarter finals five years ago.

Riskymove

awec wrote: »

I'm sure Munster would argue very strongly for a Munster v Connacht game to be in Thomond.

On the other hand the IRFU might say that you owe us a tonne of money so get your arses up the M7 pronto.

they didn't move Munster vs Ulster a couple of years back

I don't see Munster vs Connacht being moved tbh

Leinster may move to Avivia depending on opposition

Peregrine

snotboogie wrote: »

I think an agreement between the IRFU/Munster and the Cork County Board/GAA for three games a year would be a great idea.

IRFU paid a lot of money for Thomond Park. I can't see Munster playing their biggest matches (which would sell out Thomond) in another stadium where the GAA would eat into their profits.

It's never going to happen for a non-semi-final match. They can't play CC semi-finals in Thomond and will have to look elsewhere. I'm only thinking of the possibilities of Aviva vs PUC in such a situation.

Riskymove wrote: »

Leinster may move to Avivia depending on opposition

Leinster QFs have always been in the Aviva AFAIR. Against Leicester, Bath and even against Cardiff in 2012.

The Lost Sheep

snotboogie wrote: »

I think an agreement between the IRFU/Munster and the Cork County Board/GAA for three games a year would be a great idea. It would solve the issue of Munster essentially completely ignoring Cork and the issue of PUC lying totally empty for huge parts of the year. They could have one group game from the Champions Cup, the Leinster home game from the Pro 12 and the option for one more later in the year (whether that be a Champions Cup knockout or a pro 12 semi or the option to roll over to the next year), in other words use PUC like Leinster use the Aviva.

I know people jump to write this off but in terms of Irish rugby, Cork has been completely left out in the cold. Despite the city and county's enormous contribution to the Munster team (past and present) and the huge fan base in the city, Cork is left with a max of four (sometimes 3) home games a year, usually the four least attractive fixtures (granted not the case this year) and never a home derby or a European game. It sucks being a rugby fan in Cork....

It wouldnt be a good idea and this idea that Cork is ignored is nonsense. You dont hear all people from the other counties complaining about being ignored. Every time you use a venue like PUC you have to pay rents that just isnt viable. IRFU own the Aviva which is completely different.

Cookiemunster wrote: »

It's Corks own fault it doesn't get any big matches. MR wanted to expand Musgrave to 18K around the same time that Thomond was being expanded, but Cork city council shot down their plans, while Limerick city council bent over backwards to facilitate Thomonds expansion. So ye are now stuck with a 9k capacity stadium with no big games.

And Musgrave going to 18K while Thomond also expanded would have been a complete waste of money.

Bridge93 wrote: »

If Munster were to draw Connacht in the quarters what chance is there if it being moved to a bigger ground? The talk is Leinster could be going to the Aviva so was curious if there was a guaranteed 50,000 sell out would the IRFU want it at the Aviva too?

None. Didnt happen with Ulster a few years back so dont see it happening where Munster to draw Connacht

daithi7

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

It wouldnt be a good idea and this idea that Cork is ignored is nonsense. You dont hear all people from the other counties complaining about being ignored.

Perhaps that's because Cork is the biggest city in the province by over a factor of 2. Perhaps because Cork has the biggest third level institution/university in the province who have historically (& currently) provided a massive number of Munster players. Perhaps because Cork is the biggest potential market for Munster Rugby in terms of development, players and revenue and yet Munster Rugby have presided over a moronic monoplisation of rugby into the significantly smaller, less prosperous, less populous city in the province with less opportunities for growth. Pure dumb.

How not to maximise your potential, the Limerick only Munster way.

The Lost Sheep

daithi7 wrote: »

Perhaps that's because Cork is the biggest city in the province by over a factor of 2. Perhaps because Cork has the biggest third level institution/university in the province who have historically (& currently) provided a massive number of Munster players. Perhaps because Cork is the biggest potential market for Munster Rugby in terms of development, players and revenue and yet Munster Rugby have presided over a moronic monoplisation of rugby into the significantly smaller, less prosperous, less populous city in the province with less opportunities for growth. Pure dumb.

How not to maximise your potential, the Limerick only Munster way.

Im from tipp. Never felt disassociated because the pro team has never once played in my county..
The whole province is the market for Munster. Munster hasnt monopolised itself. It needed to move to one base. That makes sense in every sense, That games are still played in Cork is great and will always happen but there wasnt any alternative. Musgrave was never going to be expanded hugely when it was decided Thomond would get rebuilt.
The role of the 3rd level institution isnt as big as you are making it out to be. There isnt at all less room for growth by having the training base and main stadium in Limerick.

Peregrine

daithi7 wrote: »

Perhaps that's because Cork is the biggest city in the province by over a factor of 2. Perhaps because Cork has the biggest third level institution/university in the province who have historically (& currently) provided a massive number of Munster players. Perhaps because Cork is the biggest potential market for Munster Rugby in terms of development, players and revenue and yet Munster Rugby have presided over a moronic monoplisation of rugby into the significantly smaller, less prosperous, less populous city in the province with less opportunities for growth. Pure dumb.

How not to maximise your potential, the Limerick only Munster way.

Look, it makes sense to consolidate the team to one city. I don't think anyone should feel left out because of that. Cork may be the biggest potential market but Limerick is the biggest historic and existing market. Is Munster Rugby really neglecting Cork in any way other than not playing in Cork?

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/munster-building-for-the-future-at-975m-training-centre-419244.html
Cork players seem more than happy with the recent consolidation of the team to Limerick.

FWIW, that god damn M20 should have been built over a decade ago. Cork and Limerick has to be the two worst connected urban areas in Ireland.

nc6000

Every home Leinster knock-out game in Europe since playing Clermont in the RDS in April 2010 has been played in Lansdowne Road and the only reason this game was played in the RDS was because Lansdowne Road was being redeveloped. The 2009 Munster v Leinster semi-final was played in Croke Park because Lansdowne was a building site.

ScrubsfanChris

This might be going a little off track but as someone from Cork I don't really have a major problem with the current set up. As long as I've been going to games thomond was always ahead of Musgrave because you know, it was the better ground. I also enjoy the Limerick day trips cause it's one of the few things I get to do with my dad where it's just the two of us. From when he brought me at ten years old to me chauffeuring him nowadays.

Also, the population might be bigger down here but I don't think Cork has significantly more "Munster Rugby" fans. Support for Cork City FC has risen majorly in recent years and even in the bad times GAA is still miles ahead of both.
Musgrave park has sold out its 8000 tickets for its last two games and realistically it could probably bump up to 11 or 12 thousand and still keep the atmosphere, but that's a way down the line.
I'm just happy the team is doing well and if that means moving things like the training camp to Limerick full time then so be it.

daithi7

Yes, the senior Munster team is doing well again recently, after many years of underperformance mind.

But Munster Rugby are running at a huge deficit off the pitch. The debt on TP is weighing heavily on the finances of rugby in the province. Munster Rugby have only been kept solvent through 'once off' direct assistance from the IRFU central coffers. Also the representation and performance of underage Munster teams has fallen way behind rival provinces such as Leinster, over many years now.

In that context, monopolizing Munster Rugby into the significantly smaller, poorer and less populous city in the province looks particularly dumb.

If they wanted to have the main stadium in Limerick, fine, then they should have had the team, academy and training centre based in Cork. Or Vice Versa. That common sense policy would have kept a significant foothold in each city simultaneously, and would have best optimised the potential of Munster Rugby throughout the province imho.

What they've conjured up instead is a physical disconnect of Munster Rugby from its largest city & population base, a remove from the largest university in the province and historical biggest provider of indigenous player talent, and a conscious decision to centralise Munster Rugby in the smaller , less prosperous, less populous city to ignore the largest one in the province.

Dumb, really dumb, imho.

The Lost Sheep

daithi7 wrote: »

Yes, the senior Muster team is doing well again recently, after many years of underperformance mind.

But Munster Rugby are running at a huge deficit off the pitch. The debt on TP is weighing heavily on the finances of rugby in the province. Munster Rugby have only been kept solvent through 'once off' direct assistance from the IRFU central coffers. Also the representation and performance of underage Munster teams has fallen way behind rival provinces such as Leinster, over many years now.

By and large Munsters underage teams have always been considerably behind Leinsters in representation at national level. Debt on TP is weighing heavily but that is being addressed

In that context, monopolizing Munster Rugby into the significantly smaller, poorer and less populous city in the province looks particularly dumb.

If they wanted to have the main stadium in Limerick, fine, then they should
have had the team, academy and training centre based in Cork. Or Vice Versa. That common sense policy would have kept a significant foothold in each city simultaneously, and would have best optimised the potential of Munster Rugby in the province imho.

The training base was tendered and CIT put in a bid but it was nothing on what UL offered and ULs was considerably better than CIT and LIT who also put in a bid
Focusing on the stadium with the better history is a better plan and Munster are not monopolised into Limerick.

What they've conjured up instead is a physical disconnect of Munster Rugby from its largest city & population base, a remove from the largest university in the province and historical biggest provider of indigenous player talent, and a conscious decision to centre in the smaller , less prosperous, less populous city to ignore the largest one in the province.

Dumb, really dumb, imho.

Thats just nonsense. I dont like how irish teams play virtually no games outside of Dublin and have argued for u20 and womens games to be moved out of Donnybrook but that doesnt mean there is any disconnect between irish people and the national teams.

Riskymove

Peregrine wrote: »

Leinster QFs have always been in the Aviva AFAIR. Against Leicester, Bath and even against Cardiff in 2012.

Yep, it has always made sense to do so and its unlikely they would be faced with opposition that wouldn't warrant the aviva

Riskymove

Riskymove wrote: »

Yep, it has always made sense to do so and its unlikely they would be faced with opposition that wouldn't warrant the aviva

It will 100%, definitely positively be in Lansdowne, it doesn't matter who the opposition is. If Leinster get a home QF of course.

Cookiemunster

daithi7 wrote: »

If they wanted to have the main stadium in Limerick, fine, then they should have had the team, academy and training centre based in Cork. Or Vice Versa. That common sense policy would have kept a significant foothold in each city simultaneously, and would have best optimised the potential of Munster Rugby throughout the province imho.

What they've conjured up instead is a physical disconnect of Munster Rugby from its largest city & population base, a remove from the largest university in the province and historical biggest provider of indigenous player talent, and a conscious decision to centralise Munster Rugby in the smaller , less prosperous, less populous city to ignore the largest one in the province.

Dumb, really dumb, imho.

This part is complete and utter BS. I live 1km from UL and I never see any players around other than at the matches. How would having the training center in Cork make any difference to the Cork rugby public? The training center could be in Dublin and it would make no difference. I have no idea what UCC has to do with anything either. It as a university doesn't provide anything to Munster rugby. UL have provided a multimilion Euro training facilty.

Also have you heard of Clare, Tipp, Kerry and Waterford? They are also in Munster and they don't even get games, never mind have a training center and the fans from those counties don't feel in any way disenfranchised. Get over yourself.

Mr Tickle

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Also have you heard of Clare, Tipp, Kerry and Waterford? They are also in Munster and they don't even get games, never mind have a training center and the fans from those counties don't feel in any way disenfranchised. Get over yourself.

Well i guess the strongest part of the argument is the population. Maybe you could argue better infrastructure to get to Cork.

And I could see the benefit of playing one or two big games down here. for one thing everyone already owns red jerseys.

but unlike the other poster I really don't see it as something to get worked up about. Nobody is being "neglected". Thomond park has so much history and i'd rather see the mystique re-built around that than see the matches spread around too much.

.ak

Uhhh think we've strayed a fair bit off topic here.

snotboogie

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

This might be going a little off track but as someone from Cork I don't really have a major problem with the current set up. As long as I've been going to games thomond was always ahead of Musgrave because you know, it was the better ground. I also enjoy the Limerick day trips cause it's one of the few things I get to do with my dad where it's just the two of us. From when he brought me at ten years old to me chauffeuring him nowadays.

Also, the population might be bigger down here but I don't think Cork has significantly more "Munster Rugby" fans. Support for Cork City FC has risen majorly in recent years and even in the bad times GAA is still miles ahead of both.
Musgrave park has sold out its 8000 tickets for its last two games and realistically it could probably bump up to 11 or 12 thousand and still keep the atmosphere, but that's a way down the line.
I'm just happy the team is doing well and if that means moving things like the training camp to Limerick full time then so be it.

I know that the tone of your post is civil in what is a very adversarial topic and that will get you a lot of plaudits here but in a general sense much of what you are saying doesn't apply to Cork rugby fans. I've never talked to a Munster fan in Cork who viewed the drive to Limerick as a nice day out. It's an absolute and utter pain in the ass, it's across terrible roads, the traffic is always bad and it requires the commitment of an entire day. 

Your estimate of going from 8k fans to 11k fans as "way down the line" is woefully pessimistic, if the games were there, the fans would go. In my experience, working in a number of different offices in the city, it's soccer first, rugby second and GAA third in terms of peoples interest and the conversations I hear. This idea that Cork is a GAA county is decades out of date and the players being produced across the three sports shows this. The GAA get bums on the seats because they have the big events, a county final against Kerry in the summer is obviously going to draw more attention then Zebre at home during the November Internationals. 


The old red herring that "Tipp get no games so be happy with what you get" is still being trotted out, Carrigaline (15k) alone is nearly double the size of Nenagh (8k) the biggest town in Tipp. There are four major cities in the country, Cork is the only one without regular rugby, despite being the second biggest and having a huge interest in the game. It's clear that the city is losing out.