IT MAY HAVE been the worst-kept secret in Irish sporting circles, but we still had to wait for the official confirmation, didn’t we?
That came this morning when ERC Chairman Derek McGrath called a press conference at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium to confirm that the Lansdowne Road venue will host the final of European rugby’s premier club competition, the Heineken Cup, in 2013.
The Heineken Cup Final was last hosted in Dublin 4 when Toulouse beat Perpignan on a scoreline of 22-17 in 2003. It had been heavily touted as a potential venue for this year’s final but was overlooked in favour of Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium amid fears that it would not be ready for use just three days after hosting football’s Europa League Final.
This time around, there were no such concerns and so, ten years on, the competition will return to Irish soil for the climax of its 18th edition, much to the delight of both the IRFU and the country’s tourism industry.
“The Aviva Stadium is a world class venue which has quickly established a close affinity with the Heineken Cup having staged three matches last season, including two magnificent knockout games,” said McGrath earlier today.
“The decision of the ERC Board to bring the Heineken Cup final back to Dublin for the first time since 2003 is further recognition of the passion that Irish fans have for the tournament and we are confident that our showpiece game in 2013 will be another landmark occasion in the history of Irish rugby and sport.”
IRFU chief executive Philip Browne also welcomed the decision at this morning’s press conference, highlighting the strong financial contribution which the game of rugby makes to the Irish economy.
It is estimated that rugby contributes over €200m to the Irish economy, and the recent Ireland-England Six Nations game generated just over €51m to the Dublin economy.
“While the financial benefits are particularly strong, the prestige and exposure for the game in this country are just as powerful, and in hosting the first Heineken Cup final since 2003, I am sure that Irish rugby and the city of Dublin will deliver yet another memorable occasion.”
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar was among those present at this morning’s announcement, saying: ”I have no doubt that our proud sporting heritage, our knowledgeable and enthusiastic fan base, and our proven ability to successfully host major sporting events will guarantee a Heineken Cup final to remember.
I believe that being afforded the privilege of hosting a Heineken Cup final in 2013 will be a fitting tribute to all those who have worked so diligently and so imaginatively to bring Irish rugby to its current level of success.
I don’t buy this Premier League era, It’s a farce and disrespectful to what came before.
Don’t worry Liverpool won’t be forgotten..
True.. It is a great story, but disrespectful to all the father and son champions before it who are left out by saying premier league era.
Sky invented english soccer- well that’s what they want you to think. This was never more evident than Vardys excellent run of goals this season ignoring Jimmy Dunne, it is only one example it like soccer was not played in England until 1992, like you see in extreme communist regimes where they start at year zero and all previous history is deleted.
Shaun Wright Phillips isn’t Ian Wright ‘s son .He got with her Ma ,thats all .
I have no doubt about that, The most successful club in England and still counting.
Not having a go but technically Man Utd are if you are on about English titles (20-18), and overall major trophy wins (62-60).
Major trophies? Thats way too much either way…. League, FA Cup, League Cup, CL, Europa/UEFA, CWC. Do not count Charity Shield, European Super cup or World Club…..
Would you count UEFA cup is that classed as a major? Considering it’s only open to teams not good enough for champions league.. For me that doesn’t make it a major.
So, when it was just champions enter European cup, and many great teams went into UEFA, considered minor? Any tournament that qualifies you for the following season is major. What do you consider major?
In England League, Champions League, FA Cup and League cup in the that order.. Then maybe world club cup followed by Europa league but I wouldn’t count them as majors especially the Europa League as it isn’t of the highest standard..
World club is a micky mouse FIFA show case of the highest order……. Really…. Europa cup has the teams that just miss out on CL, and CL teams who came 3rd….. Very low quality, huh? Ffs….
The UEFA cup had plenty of good teams when only champions could enter the European cup. The cup winners cup was of lower quality in the 80s/90s. The league stage of the Europa league is cat, no doubt but once hit 1/4 finals, it’s a good standard. The World Club
Championship is only a farce of a competition
As I said not of the highest standard never said low.. I mean great players don’t want to win it as they want the champions league.. It’s good for average clubs and the real prize for winning it now is a spot in the champions league..
Irish, FA cup and League cup is only taken serious by ‘quality ‘ teams if they have no hope in the league. And yes, I know who played League Cup final.
Liverpool 41 United 39 good man!
United are 40 Liverpool 41
The FA cup has not been won yet…. And 25 years of dominance and still behind? No wonder Sky Sports Man Utd like to say it all started in 92.
Who mentioned the FA cup? I hardly included that
Well, I missed something, where you get 40?
Google it and it comes up..
Yes, league, league cup, fa cup, european cup/cl, uefa/europa and European cup winners, get 39.
Well it’s seems world club championship is counted.. I guess that’s understandable as its best team from each winners from the champions league from all around the world..
Btw I still think Europa league shouldn’t count after 1992 as its second rate teams.. But let’s not argue over little things..
World club is a fifa showcase, played in japan, where only South American or European teams will win, where you get hear team names such as mamadodooi extreme warriors or whatever…… In Japan…. Causing a fixture congestion back home…. Yes, major trophy, unlike that mickey mouse cup Europa which has useless teams such as Sevilla, Dortmund, Liverpool, Man Utd, Atletico….. Whatever makes you sleep peacefully….. Funny too, you would say that about a trophy Man U have never even come close to winning….. I know Liverpool have never won World Club, been close…. Christ, it was also skipped for years….. If it was so major, that would never happen.
I rather my team win the world club cup than the Euorpa league and I think every fan would agree with that.. Teams who win the Europa league are teams who come 5th, 6th or 7th in there league.. Teams who win the World Club cup win the champions league.. Just look at the winners of it all top clubs. And the Japan teams you mentioned never won it.. Don’t worry tho Liverpool are still ahead…
Whatever, Europa cup was very important before Man Utd played Liverpool, after that is was a useless cup. World club is a money maker for FIFA, and nothing else, every fan knows that except you. But do not worry, I have no problem acknowledging Man Utd’s dominance that they had, they were brilliant, and yea, as a Pool fan, that is hard, but credit were credit is due…. But you demean a cup, where some of the finest teams in Europe still contest is not right, world club is a joke, no team wants to be there. I am not going to respond after this one, and also, I guess Man Utd stay at 39, your not going to count the cup winners? Where teams near the end could qualify……………?
Every team want to win the world club cup as it means they already won the champions league..
Btw I’m not the making this up just google it and United are 40 and Liverpool 41.. I don’t know why it bothers you so much.. Fair enough you don’t respect the World Cup and I don’t respect the Europa league for the past 20 years ( due to the greater number of teams taking part in the champions league) but nevertheless our opinions don’t matter in the overall count..
Like Father Like Son !
Who are u talking about chef
The team that irish brought up.
But Chef you follow Shamrock Rovers !!
Shels.