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Leinster set for 'hugely exciting' stadium move next season
By Josh Raisey
Leinster have announced that they will play their home matches in the United Rugby Championship and Investec Champions Cup next season at the Aviva Stadium while the RDS Arena undergoes a revamp.
The URC leaders already play plenty of games a season at the Aviva Stadium, including their recent Champions Cup victories over Leicester Tigers and La Rochelle, but it will become their permanent residence from next season. Games in the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship meanwhile will continue to be played at Energia Park, in Donnybrook.
The four-time European champions have also confirmed that matches will also be played at Croke Park next season alongside the Aviva Stadium.
Croke Park is set to host Leinster's Champions Cup semi-final against Northampton Saints in May, although that is classified as a neutral venue.
Leinster CEO Shane Nolan said about the move: "This a hugely exciting update for everyone associated with Leinster Rugby and we look forward to supporting the RDS in its ambition to regenerate.
"We are very fortunate to be able to relocate to Aviva Stadium, a stadium that we are very familiar with as an organisation and as a supporter base, and where we have enjoyed many brilliant days together. Last Saturday’s win was another one to add to a long list of great days.
"I’d like to put on record my appreciation and indeed the Leinster Rugby Branch’s appreciation to the Boards of the RDS, the IRFU, the FAI and the Aviva Stadium for all their help in facilitating this move and indeed to the GAA for their help in securing Croke Park for a number of games next season.
"It will be a season like no other, of that there will be no doubt, and while we acknowledge that there will be some inconvenience in any stadium move, we are also very excited to bring a full season of Leinster Rugby matches to venues of the quality of the Aviva Stadium and Croke Park, two of the finest stadia in Europe.
"We very much appreciate in advance the ongoing support of our Season Ticket Holders as we navigate the road ahead during the RDS regeneration and we look forward to an exciting chapter for Leinster Rugby at the Aviva Stadium, and in time, a return to an even better RDS Arena."
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But he chose rightly or wrongly to play for Tonga. If he wanted to play for the ABs why didn’t he hold off?
Go to comments“A succession of recent ex-players going straight back into the game as coaches in their early 40’s would prob be enough to kill it stone-dead. Innovation would die a death.”
Would it? I do think one of the major differences between rugby and most other sports - which we’ve been overlooking - is the degree to which players are expected to lead team meetings & analysis sessions and the like. Someone like Owen Farrell has basically been an assistant coach already for ten years - and he’s been so under a variety of different head coaches with different expectations and playing styles.
“The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.”
I don’t doubt that that’s true. But having interesting insights doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the best able to inspire a team, or the best at managing the backroom staff.
“Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.”
I don’t doubt that! But I don’t think coaches should be hired on the basis that it means a lot to them.
“The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Wayne Bennett and Andy Reid all have a tale to tell. You should open your ears and listen to it!”
I agree! Never have I ever suggested otherwise!
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