Combined provinces to open Aviva
Thursday October 29 2009
LANSDOWNE ROAD will go back to the future on August 7 next year when the redeveloped stadium hosts its first match between a Leinster/Ulster team and a Munster/Connacht selection in an exhibition contest, writes Hugh Farrelly.
Leinster and Ulster were the first representative sides to play at the old stadium almost 133 years ago, on December 16, 1876, and were there for the final match before the re-development in a Magners League match dubbed 'The Last Stand' on New Year's Eve, 2006, which Leinster won 20-12.
The composite clash harks back to the exhibition games of the amateur era and will be the first match to take place in the stadium, followed by internationals against South Africa, Samoa, New Zealand and Argentina the following November.
With the roof-building complete, work is due to begin on the pitch surface next week and the stadium, sponsored by insurance giants Aviva, is on schedule for completion by April next year.
"Coming on the back of the announcement that World Champions South Africa will be the first international opposition to play here, this promises to be a great occasion to open the Aviva Stadium to the Irish Rugby public," said IRFU chief executive Philip Browne.
"It was felt that a combined provinces fixture would be the most appropriate way to do this, providing a look back into the history of the game while also creating a new chapter for Irish rugby."
The Aviva Stadium fixtures 2010 (kick-offs to be confirmed): Sat, Aug 7: Connacht/Munster v Leinster/Ulster; Sat, Nov 6: Ireland v South Africa; Nov 13/14: Ireland v Samoa; Nov 20/21: Ireland v New Zealand; Nov 27/28: Ireland v Argentina.
Exact playing dates for the games in the 2010 Guinness Series will be confirmed in the new year.
- Hugh Farrelly
Irish Independent
