After their big victory over La Rochelle on Saturday evening, Leinster rugby fans will have a special occasion to look forward to next month.
The province are set to face Northampton in a Champions Cup semi-final at Croke Park, the first time they have played at the venue in 15 years. On the last occasion they did so, they would defeat Munster in front of 82,000 spectators at Jones' Road.
With the Aviva Stadium out of commission due to the Europa League final, the GAA stadium is set to host its first major rugby game in over a decade. This is despite the fact that Stephen Jones was not impressed with Leinster being allowed to play another semi-final in Dublin.
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Leo Cullen hopes rugby fans won't be 'ripped off' for Croke Park game
Tickets for the Northampton game are set to go on sale this week, with the price of entry likely to play a role in how many rugby fans will show up on the day. It would be fantastic to see Croke Park packed out for what is a huge fixture.
Unfortunately, Leinster will have no say on those tickets prices. As a semi-final, it will be the European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) that sets the rates.
Speaking after win over La Rochelle, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen urged the EPCR not to 'rip off' fans in order to encourage a large attendance at the fixture.
We’ve had amazing support today and amazing support last week, and if you get a big crowd there, it’s a great thing. It’s a special occasion.
Hopefully EPCR price the tickets appropriately for an 82,000 venue because you want a big crowd, don’t you? Obviously, it’s an EPCR event, it’s not a Leinster event.
That’s the big thing you’d ask because you want a proper crowd there. You want to entice people to be there, to make it a special occasion rather than rip people off.
You don’t want to rip people off. So hopefully it’s a proper game now as in we get a big crowd, because if we turn up and whatever, there are 20,000 people — 20,000 is a lot of people but if it’s in an 82,000-capacity stadium then it’s a different kettle of fish, isn’t it?
Well said.
Tickets prices at EPCR events have been criticised on occasion in the past, with Leinster hopeful that their supporters will be treated fairly this time around.
Here's hoping that Croke Park is packed to gills with rugby fans on the day.
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