Ireland may be forced to play scheduled Lansdowne games in France

IRELAND may be forced to play all of their 2007 World Cup games on French soil if the re-development of Lansdowne Road commences before the tournament.

Eddie O'Sullivan's side will definitely have to play France in Paris in the opening phase of the competition but their remaining pool games including the crunch encounter against Argentina are scheduled to take place on home soil.

Yesterday, however, the IRFU admitted that if they can't use Lansdowne Road, or a suitable alternative in the country, it will be left to the tournament organisers to designate venues for Ireland's games.