Lansdowne Road/Aviva Stadium will have to make do with a quarter-final or two, as Croke Park has been earmarked to host not only the final but both semi-finals should Ireland host the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
According to the Sunday Times, the GAA has agreed to make the ground available for the top three matches that year. It has been reported that a figure in the region of €10 million will be paid to the GAA for the use of it's stadia. The IRFU dismissed this as 'pure speculation'.
The Sunday Times spoke to a senior figure close to the process.
The GAA has done a deal with the government and the IRFU for €10m plus inflation for the use of their stadiums if the bid is successful in 2016.
They have already got €30m from government with no strings attached to redevelop Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork, and they will get funding to upgrade some other stadiums.
IRFU chief Philip Browne described four grounds, the Aviva, Croker, Casement Park and Pairc Ui Chaoimh, as the anchor stadiums of the bid, though he insisted that other venues would be needed.
Why propose to have Rugby World Cup final in Croke Park rather than the Aviva? I don't mind but curious why it wouldn't go to rugby ground.
— Ronan McSherry (@RonanMcSherryUH) December 5, 2014
@andymcgeady As a punter, I'd love to see an Irish RWC final at Croker and not Aviva, the size of the former would be far better.,..
— Laura-Jane Jones (@MissLJJ) December 4, 2014
