Munster fans caught up in scrum for tickets
John Rochford, chairman of the Munster Rugby Supporters Club, which has over 4,000 members, said the situation with regard to tickets was unbelievable.
"Munster's allocation is 7,500. For definite there's going to be an awful lot of very disappointed people," he said.
Many diehard fans did not book early and now can't find anything near Cardiff, he said.
In Cardiff accommodation costs had rocketed with fans being charged €150 to €200 a night for rooms which would normally be €70 a night, he said.
"I am sorted with a ferry sailing, but I am still working my way through the hotel scene," Mr Rochford said.
"I don't have a ticket myself yet, but hopefully I'll have one and I'll have a tent in the back of the car if I can't get a hotel," he said on national radio yesterday.
The scramble for tickets, accommodation and travel began as soon as Munster beat rivals Leinster on Sunday to secure a place in the final at the Welsh capital's Millennium Stadium on May 20. By this week people were bidding upwards of €600 for pairs of tickets on internet auction sites.
And prices are likely to go even higher over the next few weeks as the final against French side Biarritz approaches.
Specialist sports travel agents also say they have been deluged with queries about Heineken Cup final packages to Cardiff. A number of special charter flights have been laid on to ferry fans from Cork to Cardiff but many scheduled services are already full despite airlines charging up to €400 plus €50 tax for day-return trips.
Ferry companies Swansea Cork Ferries and Irish Ferries said bookings for the final weekend were already at near-record levels.
At least 30,000 Munster fans from Britain and Ireland are expected to travel to Cardiff.
Hotel rooms have virtually sold out and most guesthouses and bed and breakfasts are also full.
Beds in Swansea, Bath and Bristol were said to be almost booked out and many fans were said to be booking accommodation in London.
Fans who booked earlier, were informed on Tuesday that Ryanair is to scrap its Dublin Cardiff service from next week. However, it is believed the airline will honour its bookings and fly fans to Bristol instead.
Aer Arann say they will shortly be launching a Dublin Cardiff flight, but with all beds in a 50-mile radius of Cardiff booked out, problems remain for intending travellers to the game.
Laura Wilby of the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff said tickets had been on sale since last October.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
