Aviva Stadium in Dublin to host 2013 Heineken Cup final

[Mac]

Sorry Lansdowne to host........

Next season's Heineken Cup decider will be staged at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin for the first time.

It is built on the site of the old Lansdowne Road, which hosted the final of Europe's top club competition in 1999 and 2003.

Holders Leinster take on Irish rivals Ulster in this year's final at Twickenham on Saturday.

The ERC also announced on Monday that the Royal Dublin Showgrounds will host the Amlin Challenge Cup final in 2013.

"The decision of the ERC Board to stage both the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup finals in Dublin reflects the hugely positive impact Irish clubs and fans have had on European club rugby," said ERC chief executive Derek McGrath.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/18061479

[big mervyn]

Was announced about a year ago.

Tickets on sale from Monday week. Get in quick to beat the Turnips and Ladyboys.

2014 is supposed to be in Italy I believe.

[OneMore]

It will make travelling to see our title defense a little easier in any case.

[big mervyn]

It will make travelling to see our title defense a little easier in any case.

3-in-a-row is going to be a tad more expensive though ...

[Rooster]

It will make travelling to see our title defense a little easier in any case.

3-in-a-row is going to be a tad more expensive though ...

Italy is a mighty place for a trip though

[ruckover]

Ah good old ERC. Trying to make the Italians feel included in someway since their teams suck.

[breakdown]

I have a funny feeling we only need to get in ahead of the ladyboys, my guess is the turnips will give this one a miss...

[Rooster]

Ah good old ERC. Trying to make the Italians feel included in someway since their teams suck.

Aye and they are holding it in England this year to make them feel included since their teams suck

Seriously Italy will be some spot for the final, certain sell out I would think.

[breakdown]

Agree Rooster, only had the pleasure of going to Rome once and presuming that's where the HEC final is, it would be a great idea, possibly could make a holiday out of it.

As well as that, I'd say Italy could do with some money coming in

[mikerob]

It would need to be in the Olympic stadium in Rome. Stadio Flaminio only holds 30-something thousand.

[big mervyn]

It would need to be in the Olympic stadium in Rome. Stadio Flaminio only holds 30-something thousand.

What's the minimum for a final?

[mikerob]

It would need to be in the Olympic stadium in Rome. Stadio Flaminio only holds 30-something thousand.

What's the minimum for a final?

Don't think there is a minimum as such, but the last 5 finals have averaged >70k so they clearly won't want it in a ~30k stadium. LR will next year will probably be the smallest final for 10 years.... but the ERC have got to give the IRFU something once in a while.

[ruckover]

RDS gets the Amlin as well - doesn't it only hold 18,000? Seems small(ish) for the final.

[BaggyTrousers]

RDS gets the Amlin as well - doesn't it only hold 18,000? Seems small(ish) for the final.

Could well be the biggest crowd for an Amlin if they fill it, other than when Cardiff won it. Its growing but its never drawn a huge crowd.

[ruckover]

Actually, Twickenham Stoop only holds 14,816 (according to Wikipedia) and the RDS holds 18,500, so I'm wrong (shock surprise). In my defence, I thought the Stoop held a lot more than that.