THE GUINNESS PRO14 final scheduled to take place at the Aviva Stadium later this month has been moved forward by half an hour to avoid a fixture clash with the Champions League final.
The Pro14 final was due to kick-off at 6.30pm on Saturday 26 May, but will now get underway at 6pm after organisers went to ‘great effort’ to get it moved forward.
Last week, Pro14 CEO Martin Anayi said they were working ‘furiously’ with the relevant stakeholders to avoid a clash, which would have had a detrimental effect on ticket sales for the Aviva Stadium final.
Liverpool’s involvement in the Champions League decider against Real Madrid at 7.45pm on the same night increased Irish and British interest, with a statement from Pro14 organisers explaining the decision was taken ‘in order to accommodate fans at the Aviva Stadium or at home’ who wished to watch both finals.
“Once the finalists for the Champions League were confirmed, Pro14 Rugby immediately set about working to change the kick-off time of the Guinness Pro14 final,” a statement read.
While the potential of an All-Ireland Pro14 final is no longer a possibility, there will at least be one Irish province in the decider with Leinster and Munster to meet in a mouth-watering semi-final tie on 19 May.
The other semi-final sees Glasgow Warriors, who topped their conference after the regular season games, host defending champions Scarlets for the right to contest the final in Dublin on the final weekend of May.
The Pro14 final will still be shown in its entirety on Sky Sports Action from 5.30pm, while TG4 will carry live free-to-air coverage in Ireland.
TV3 and RTÉ, meanwhile, will show the Champions League final live from Kiev at 7.45pm.
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If he gets back into the Irish setup without others getting injured I’d be very surprised. Saying that if he does merit a recall then he’ll be playing fantastic rugby so for Ireland sake I hope he does.
@Chris Mc: It’s all about him I reckon cause he’s definitely got the talent/ability. As someone else pointed out here he looked in bad shape for a lot of his time at Wasps, if he really focuses on that he could challenge for a place on the squad no problem.
@The Irish Pain: wasps wanted him heavier, to be a different prop than the mobile less effective scrumager cooper wolley
Ireland now have 5 reliable TH props available . Furlong , Porter , Bealham , Ryan and Moore : all under 30 . That’s an incredible turnaround .
@Limón Madrugada: Maybe you could include Archer on that list as he seems to be first choice in Munster.
@Tom Reilly: but reliable for Ireland ?? I’m not convinced , he is capped though for sure ..
Someone on here yesterday said that Leinster made a ‘poor decision’ letting Marty Moore go.
I think the opposite, Marty Moore made a poor decision to leave Leinster.
When he left he was in the Irish 23, primed to replace Ross. He moved to Wasps and ended up not even starting for them. He also looked unfit.
In that time Leinster developed Furlong and Porter, Ireland brought in Bealham and Ryan and a few years later he’s back fighting for 3rd/4th in the Irish pecking order.
A shame because he is some prop on his day. Possibly a better scrummager than any of the above.
@Oval Digest: The word was that Moore was excited to play under Dai Young, a well capped Welsh and Lions prop. Maybe it was the 2 year deal offered by Leinster vs the 3 year Wasps deal (undoubtedly for more money) that was the real reason. Or maybe he saw Tadgh Furlong coming through and thought now’s the time to cash in. Or perhaps he thought Leinster are not gonna be challenging any more. If it was the Young factor that helped him go, the renowned Young had no impact on him other than gaining weight. The move might have been good for his bank balance but it was a disaster for his career. Thus far. Still, a big season and he could play his way in.
@grandslamkbo The word was also that Moore signed a contract without realising that he couldn’t get out of it in an effort to bargain with the IRFU, and then got stuck.
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/leinster-admit-defeat-in-bid-to-retain-marty-moore-s-services-1.2510136
Marty is good on his day when fit, the problem is there just isn’t enough of those days.
He will have to buck up his ideas if he is to have a sniff of being anywhere near the Irish squad.
Yes squad not team
His whole career and how people will view his achievements relies on his application for the next two years
Be interesting to see how Nathan Hughes goes this season, he should be pushing for a place in the English team.
@Ruairi O’Bric: He is a super club player but I’m not sure about his workrate apart from ball carrying. If Billy V stays fits there’s no comparison…
Looked very unfit at Wasps as when he was playing previously for Leinster he had great mobility/work-rate and could force a few turnovers too.
He was overweight when he last played for Leinster and Ireland and things have only gotten worse since, needs to go on a serious shred if he is to make Ireland contention again.