Heineken cracker at Croker could be the ‘biggest match ever’
Tickets gone in minutes as provincial rivals book a grudge classic
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Monday April 13 2009
This potentially could be the biggest game in world club rugby. The current attendance record is about 81,600Stephen O'Farrell
THOUSANDS of Irish rugby fans were disappointed after public tickets for the mouth-watering Heineken Cup semi-final clash between Leinster and Munster sold out in minutes last night.
The glamour tie between the two heavyweights of Irish rugby was set up after both provinces defeated their quarter-final opposition yesterday.
In another dream day for rugby fans, Munster thrashed the Ospreys by 34 points before Leinster pulled off a hard-fought one-point victory away to Harlequins.
The two provinces will meet in a highly anticipated semi-final on May 2 in Croke Park.
But even Croker's 82,000 capacity may not satisfy the insatiable demand of a country now swept with rugby fever after Ireland's historic Six Nations Grand Slam last month.
The 5,000 public tickets that went on sale immediately after yesterday's ties sold out in half a minute, a Ticketmaster spokesman confirmed. A further 60,000 will be divided between the Leinster and Munster branches and are also expected to sell out in record time.
Thousands of fans are set to miss out and ticket prices on auction sites such as eBay are expected to reach massively inflated levels.
John Corcoran, communications manager for the competition's administrators, European Rugby Cup, revealed just how big the game was.
Record
"This potentially could be the biggest game in world club rugby. The current attendance record is about 81,600, which is held by the Guinness Premiership final," he said.
"This could beat that and become a world record."
He added that in the highly unlikely instance some tickets do not sell through the Leinster and Munster branches, the remainder would go on public sale through Ticketmaster.
Another 10,000 tickets will be available to purchase for Croke Park premium seat and corporate suite holders.
And 1,500 tickets are to be sold as part of official hospitality packages, with the remaining tickets allocated to European club rugby stakeholders and partners.
Mr Corcoran added: "It will be the first Heineken Cup game to be played in Croke Park so that is something new for the tournament. It will be the 85th venue to hold Heineken Cup action."
The tie is the second time the sides have met in an European Cup semi-final. Munster beat Leinster at Lansdowne Road on their way to lifting the trophy in 2006.
The grudge match is already being touted by fans as at least on a par with an Irish international, with a coveted place in the Heineken Cup final at stake.
The local economy around Croke Park, corporate hospitality within the stadium, and rugby merchandise stores around the country will all receive a much-needed shot in the arm from the tie.
Dublin City Mayor Eibhlin Byrne last night described the achievements of the two sides in making the semi-final as a massive boost.
"What we really need in this city is a boost in confidence and a sense that we can do things well," she said.
"The rugby teams have given us a huge amount with which to link our positivity, and that's really what we need."
- Stephen O'Farrell
