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Leinster issue statement on 'incident' at Grandstand at RDS
By Ian Cameron
An area of seating at the RDS was closed off by Irish police last night over safety concerns regarding a row of seats.
Leinster says reports in the media that the stand 'collapsed' were 'hugely wide of the mark'.
Leinster Rugby issued the following statement late last night: "At the Guinness PRO14 game between Leinster Rugby and Ulster Rugby on Saturday, 6th January 2018 in the RDS Arena there was an issue with the flooring in a single isolated row of seats at the back of Block L in the Grandstand.
"As a result, up to 12 patrons were moved from their seats and the area was shut down by members of An Garda Síochána and Sword Security.
"There were no injuries reported at the time and a formal investigation is now underway by the RDS in conjunction with their event safety management contractors Eamon O'Boyle & Associates."
The RDS has been home to Leinster Rugby since 2007 when the senior team’s games were relocated from Donnybrook Stadium.
Leinster Rugby’s first game after the official move was a home win against Edinburgh Rugby in the Magners League in September 2007, though the first game played at the RDS by the province was a 34-15 win over Cardiff Blues in September 2005.
The move to the RDS came due to a lack of capacity at Donnybrook Stadium. After renovation and expansion, the Grandstand and North and South Stands were expanded, boosting the capacity to 18,500 along with floodlights being installed and a new playing surface being laid, to withstand the demands of a full rugby season and show jumping events.
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Latest Comments
Yet Ethan Blackadder was one of our best against the World Champion Springbok. When he came back to the Crusaders later in the season , he made a huge difference, ( a long with others like Codie Taylor), we nearly made the Play Off's. Ethan has plenty of rugby left in him. His family , Dad Todd Blackadder must be very [proud of him. Todd Blackadder was a 3 time champion captain of the Crusaders, '98, '99 and 2000.An icon in this area. Also twice captain of Canterbury , '97 and 2001 when we won the NPC and Ranfurly Shield winning captain in 2000.
Go to commentsIt's the same criticism of Dmac and Mo'unga as well. Sadly the way the game has been heading recently it's the only way to break down a defence, and a player of Lawrences nature would have a very limited chance at doing that because he's too one dimensional.
Noah Lolesio is your sort of player and that worked OK, but only because his team is far more creative than Englands for example. The highly organized Irish attack was also another that didn't require much from the 10, but that is now changing with Prendergast who is in that league mold like the most new age 10's.
So it is in fact your two which would require even more change to make the most of than Marcus Smith.
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