Heineken Cup 2013 Final

[TRF_Cymro]

Tournament organisers, ERC, announced today (9 June, 2011) that the Heineken Cup final will be returning to Dublin in 2013 following the selection of the Aviva Stadium as the venue for European club rugby’s 18thshowpiece occasion.

The Heineken Cup final was last held in Dublin in 2003 when Toulouse beat Perpignan 22-17 at Lansdowne Road although since then the stadium, both old and new, has staged an array of classic European contests.

Only last season on their march to a second Heineken Cup final triumph, Leinster defeated both Leicester Tigers and Toulouse at the Aviva Stadium as attendances at the home of Irish rugby surpassed the 600,000 mark for European matches.

“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 knock-out games,†said ERC Chief Executive Derek McGrath.

“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.

“Ireland has provided four Heineken Cup champions in the past six seasons and Irish rugby is steeped in the history of the tournament since it began 16 years ago. 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.â€

IRFU chief executive Philip Browne said: “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 â'¬200m to the Irish economy, and the recent Ireland-England Six Nations game generated just over â'¬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.â€

Gerry Breen, Lord Mayor of Dublin said: “We are looking forward to welcoming the finalists and fans to Dublin’s Aviva Stadium in May 2013 for the Heineken Cup final. It will give us a great opportunity to showcase the many delights that are Dublin. I would like to congratulate the IRFU on being awarded the honour of hosting the final in the city of Dublin.â€

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar TD said: “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 the 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.â€

NOTES

Leinster made their home debut in the Heineken Cup at Lansdowne Road on 6 December, 1995 when they beat Pontypridd 23-22 â€" the first of 22 top-flight European matches played at the ground.

Since then, the Dublin venue has hosted some of the most famous Heineken Cup matches of all-time:
1999 â€" Ulster became the first Irish province to win the Heineken Cup by beating Colomiers in the final.
2004 â€" London Wasps defeated Munster 37-33 in a semi-final that still ranks with many as the greatest Heineken Cup game of all-time.
2006 â€" Munster stormed to a 30-6 semi-final victory over arch-rivals Leinster on their way to a first Heineken Cup ***le.
2010/11 â€" Leinster defeated the reigning French champions, ASM Clermont Auvergne, English champions, Leicester Tigers, and Heineken Cup champions, Toulouse at the Aviva Stadium, on the road to a second Heineken Cup triumph

HEINEKEN CUP MATCHES AT LANSDOWNE ROAD / AVIVA STADIUM

1995-2011 22 MATCHES â€" Total attendance: 635,703
Date Fixture Attendance
30/04/2011 Leinster 32-23 Toulouse 50,073 S-F
09/04/2011 Leinster 17-10 Leicester Tigers 49,762 Q-F
18/12/2010 Leinster 24-8 ASM Clermont Auvergne 44,873
09/12/2006 Leinster 26-10 Agen 18,652
21/10/2006 Leinster 37-20 Gloucester 22,530
23/04/2006 Leinster 6-30 Munster 47,800 S-F
01/04/2006 Munster 19-10 Perpignan 48,500 Q-F
02/04/2005 Leinster 13-29 Leicester Tigers 48,500
15/01/2005 Leinster 57-17 Benetton Treviso 12,750
04/12/2004 Leinster 92-17 Bourgoin 9,100
30/10/2004 Leinster 30-11 Bath Rugby 13,850
25/04/2004 Munster 32-37 London Wasps 49,000 S-F
23/01/2004 Leinster 20-17 Cardiff Blues 23,463
09/01/2004 Leinster 22-23 Sale Sharks 14,200
06/12/2003 Leinster 32-6 Biarritz Olympique 7,200
24/05/2003 Toulouse 22-17 Perpignan 28,600 FINAL
27/04/2003 Leinster 14-21 Perpignan 37,000 S-F
12/04/2003 Leinster 18-13 Biarritz Olympique 46,000 Q-F
30/01/1999 Ulster 21-6 Colomiers 49,000 FINAL
16/10/1996 Leinster 10-27 Leicester 3,500
30/12/1995 Leinster 14-23 Cardiff 7,350 S-F
06/12/1995 Leinster 23-22 Pontypridd 4,000

HEINEKEN CUP FINALS
2012 â€" Twickenham Stadium, 19/20 May
2013â€" Aviva Stadium, 18/19 May

Courtesy of ERC Media
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[munstermuffin]

Awful decision.

Yes it's good for Dublin Economy IF there no irish team as it'll bring in cash.
But for last few years the game has developed and can sell 70k+ tickets easy for a final.
Now we have a 49k stadium and when you take away people who have 10 year seats, corporate and so on it'll be roughly 30k seats I'm hearing. It's a nice stadium but I think (unless it's an all French final) it's too small

 

[Feicarsinn]

Fifty one thousand is alright, not much off having it in Murrayfield. It has to come to Dublin occasionally, there aren't enough venues otherwise. Don't blame the ERC, blame the IRFU for not getting their planning sorted in the first place. Still, I'll make all efforts to be there, but it'll see out very quickly

 

[lynam1104]

Your right MM, I can't understand why the decreased the number of seats even before all the others are taken out. If Ireland ever wants to host a WC (Which I don't think we do) the final would have to be in Croke Park and one Semi in Cardiff.

But it will be a good atmosphere always is in Landsdowe

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Awful decision.

Yes it's good for Dublin Economy IF there no irish team as it'll bring in cash.
But for last few years the game has developed and can sell 70k+ tickets easy for a final.
Now we have a 49k stadium and when you take away people who have 10 year seats, corporate and so on it'll be roughly 30k seats I'm hearing. It's a nice stadium but I think (unless it's an all French final) it's too small

10 year seats are only international. Me old fella has one, I'm not sure about 1st preference though.

 

[Teh Mite]

So any team who reaches the final will receive an allocation of 6 tickets each. Makes sense...

 

[Groundhog]

no cos theres bound to be an irish team in it

 

[Teh Mite]

no cos theres bound to be an irish team in it

What? You're telling me that Irish teams are entitled to higher allocations of tickets then any other side issued by the ERC?

We all know the suits in charge of all rugby are bent, but that takes the ****.

 

[Feicarsinn]

What? You're telling me that Irish teams are entitled to higher allocations of tickets then any other side issued by the ERC?

We all know the suits in charge of all rugby are bent, but that takes the ****.

Naw, he's saying that all the neutral tickets will be snapped up by Irish fans and that'll suit when Leinster romp home yet again

 

[Teh Mite]

Nah, the Leinster bubble will burst soon and all the Dubliners will resume supporting Man United!

 

[franklin]

if the eru have the same ticketing policy in 2013 munster and leinster will have the place sold out by the end of the group stages.
stadium wise,i went to the ireland engand game at the aviva and was pretty impressed with it,ok not the biggest but a very nice stadium.
until the eru stop moving it around the european countrys and just play it every year at the best stadium(the millenium) people are just gunna have to put up with it.


on a side issue why can't you drink alchohol inside the aviva,they will gladly sell you it during the game but wont let you into the arena with it.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Nah, the Leinster bubble will burst soon and all the Dubliners will resume supporting Man United!

We can juggle both you know!

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Nah, the Leinster bubble will burst soon and all the Dubliners will resume supporting Man United!

What is this Man United you speak of? Some sort of charity maybe.

 

[Teh Mite]

What is this Man United you speak of? Some sort of charity maybe.

That team every glory hunter in Dublin supported before Chelsea got rich. And Leinster stopped being complete cack. So about 3 and a bit years ago.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

That team every glory hunter in Dublin supported before Chelsea got rich. And Leinster stopped being complete cack. So about 3 and a bit years ago.

So a charity for Irish fair weather supporters.

 

[Teh Mite]

So a charity for Irish fair weather supporters.

Look at your buddy DorceOutside. Or whichever account he's created this week.

Or have a look at any "fan" wandering around Temple Bar!

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

From a selfish point of view it's nice to see the event in Dublin but I'd much rather see the final take place in Rome, Milan or Barcelona.

 

[Nielsch]

The ERC should take a walk on the wildside once or twice and award the final to San Siro or even Nou Camp. I'm pretty confident these venues would sell out when hosting the HC final.

 

[Logorrhea]

From a selfish point of view it's nice to see the event in Dublin but I'd much rather see the final take place in Rome, Milan or Barcelona.

Not trying to defend the inevitable rotation to Dublin but there is a lot more to the game then the stadium.

Dublin as a city has a lot to offer. Stuff like the ability to offer accomadation to more then 5 people. An airport capable of handling more then two busloads of people. A train station capable of moving more then a few hundred.

Adding to it all, the final is a pilgrimage for a lot of people. People who like the idea of it rotating and who enjoy the trip regardless of where it is. I like the idea of constant rotation and absolutely love the idea of it going to Italy, then Spain.

 

[Teh Mite]

It'll never go to the Nou Camp. Not until Guardiola is sacked at least.