Connacht rule out Pearse move

CONNACHT Rugby chiefs have no plans to seek the use of Galway GAA’s Pearse Stadium if they are playing in the Heineken Cup next season.

The western province will qualify for Europe’s elite club competition if Leinster defeat Northampton Saints in Saturday’s decider in the Millennium Stadium.

Speculation has mounted that Eric Elwood’s side would consider requesting the use of the Salthill venue from the GAA in a bid to boost revenues

The Sportsground has a maximum capacity of 7,000 while Pearse Stadium can host 34,000.

Connacht CEO Gerry Kelly said: “We are always interested in playing in other venues, but at the moment our home is the Galway Sportsground and we do not envisage that changing in the forseeable future.”

The need to move to another stadium would only be required if Connacht qualified for the Heineken Cup knockout stages where venues require a 15,000 capacity.

“As there is no regulation for the pool stages, we will be using the Sportsground,’’ Kelly said.

Italian sides Treviso and Aironi have limited capacity, as does Northampton, who moved to Milton Keynes for its quarter-final against Ulster due to its 13,591 capacity.

Although planning permission has been granted for a new stand on the opposite side of the existing greyhound stadium, a top priority for the branch will be the provision of cover for patrons. The branch is evaluating developing a stand that would include extra seats and an official media facility costing between €200,000 to €1.5m, dependent on available finance and funding.

Meanwhile Tom McLaughlin has been appointed Head of Strength and Conditioning at Connacht.

* Worcester have been promoted to the Aviva Premiership, and Leeds Carnegie relegated, after the Warriors last night won their Championship play-off against the Cornish Pirates 46-32 on aggregate.