Rugby News

The Aviva Stadium has been confirmed as the venue for the Heineken Cup final in 2013, ten years after the competition showpiece was last held in Dublin.

Lansdowne Road was the venue in 2003 for the all-French decider between Toulouse and Perpignan, with Toulouse running out 22-17 winners.

Irish sides have won four of the last six Heineken Cups, with Leinster making it two successes in three seasons for them with a dramatic victory over Northampton Saints in Cardiff last month.

The 2012 final will be held in Twickenham before all the focus switches to the Aviva in May 2013.

ERC chief executive Derek McGrath said, “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.

“The Heineken Cup final has become one of the most prestigious sporting fixtures in the European calendar and it now requires long range planning in order to deliver the spectacle we enjoyed in Cardiff just over a fortnight ago.

“Last year we confirmed the final venues for the following two seasons, and today's announcement allows ERC to prepare the way for Dublin in 2013 while we continue to work with Twickenham Stadium on next season's final in May 2012.”

Conveniently, just as he finished that sentence, IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne interjected: “The Aviva Stadium has hosted some memorable international and Heineken Cup games in its short lifetime and is now firmly embedded as the home of Irish rugby.

“We felt it was important for the stadium that it would get this opportunity to host the pinnacle game of European club rugby and this is not only good news for the game in this country, but also for Dublin.

“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.”

Completing the roll-coll of nattering suits, Leo Varadkar, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, droned: “Dublin is ideally suited to hosting such a prestigious event. It is a city known for its warm welcome to visitors and will be a familiar destination for rugby supporters. 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.

“Rugby is an increasingly popular sport in Ireland. Irish rugby has enjoyed some great successes in recent times. Leinster's sensational comeback victory over Northampton Saints in last month's Heineken Cup final at the Millennium Stadium was the fourth time in the last six years that an Irish team has triumphed in Europe's top club competition.

“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.”