GAA opens Croker to rugby, soccer internationals from 2007

A meeting of the GAA’s powerful Central Council has agreed that rugby and soccer internationals can take place in Croke Park in 2007.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and Irish Rugby Football Association (IRFU) have welcomed the decision.

A spokesman for the IRFU said: "The Irish Rugby Football Union welcomes the decision reached by the Central Council of the GAA at its meeting today and looks forward to engaging in formal discussions for the use of Croke Park for rugby internationals during the unavailability of Lansdowne Road."

This decision by the GAA Congress comes after their decision last April that Central Council would have the power to allow the games in during the re-development of Lansdowne Road .

There was some speculation earlier this week that Central Council would kick to touch, but instead they have given the go-ahead to the games subject to the finer points being discussed by the GAA, the IRFU, and the FAI.

The dates of the game will become inside the next two months when the FAI and the IRFU announce their 2007 home fixtures.

GAA President Sean Kelly has welcomed the news as a positive development.