Munster clash with Biarritz may still be moved to Real Sociedad stadium

MUNSTER’S Heineken Cup quarter-final with Biarritz may still be played at Real Sociedad’s Paseo de Anoeta stadium in San Sebastian.

Though the San Sebastian side are due to play a La Liga game against Osasuna on the same April 3 afternoon as the European rugby tie, French officials are confident that the soccer game can be re-fixed.

Real’s ground holds more than 30,000 whereas the Parc des Sports Aguilera in Biarritz has a capacity of 12,667.

A trip to the former would mean approximately 9,000 tickets for Munster fans against 3,200 if the game remains in French territory.

Biarritz club president Marcel Martin said any move will be dependent on demand for tickets. “In the normal course of events, it would be impossible but the two [soccer] teams involved are not too far away from one another.

“It’s a derby and we are talking to the two clubs. We have also been talking to Munster, trying to get an indication of how many supporters they will bring,” said Martin.

“If we found out that it might be 1,000 or so travelling fans we wouldn’t think of changing venues but it if was anything over 5,000 we would certainly give it serious consideration.

“We all know that Munster supporters travel in numbers and I’m sure they will have a huge following.

“We have to think whether it is necessary to change. I don’t think that Bordeaux will be considered because it is outside our area, 200 kilometres as against the 20 kilometres by going to San Sebastian.”

Martin stressed there was no done deal. “We will try to look at what is best for our club and also look at ways of accommodating Munster supporters.

“Already, there have been many requests for tickets in Ireland but we need to take our talks with Munster a bit further. I cannot see any decision being reached over the next few days. If the demand for tickets are there we will take things a stage further.”