No chance of home-and-away semis next season, says ERC

EUROPEAN rugby chiefs have ruled out the possibility of two- legged Heineken Cup semi-finals next season.

The current format which has seen Munster travel to France for three successive semi-finals cannot be changed for at least a year because of a fixtures agreement with the IRB, said an ERC spokesman.

So, there will there be no change in next year's format despite calls by thousands of fans to turn the semi-finals into home-and-away games.

Munster supporters feel particularly aggrieved that they have been on the wrong end of semi-final draws in each of the last four seasons.

Nobody is complaining that particular teams gain home advantage for quarter-finals based on the respective results in the group stages, but privately, Munster officials and players believe a two legged semi-final is a more equitable system than the present one-off.

ERC spokesman Diarmuid Murphy pointed out that nine weekends had been set aside for the tournament the same as this season.

"If the various countries come up with suggestions and solutions to the fixture congestion, then a home-and-away semi-final might eventually be a runner," he said.

"The ERC is open to any suggestions, but at the moment our hands are totally tied because the rugby season involves a lot more than the Heineken Cup. We can only play around with the number of dates we are given, so even one extra weekend is not an option at this point in time."

On the issue of moving this year's final from Lansdowne Road because two French teams are contesting it, he declared: "Absolutely not. Last year we had an English team and an Irish team at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and we will be going ahead in Dublin."

It means a second successive trip to Dublin for Perpignan fans following Sunday's victory over Leinster, but Murphy pointed out: "Perpignan have already said they are absolutely delighted to be returning to Lansdowne Road for the final."

A final at a neutral venue in France would be a guaranteed sellout but the ERC spokesman insisted: "We are aiming for a full house in Dublin as well."

ERC president Jean-Pierre Lux had said earlier he would listen to an appeal but as good as ruled out a move from Dublin on May 24.

Toulouse president Rene Bouscatel said: "I've been told we will play in Dublin. Very well, we'll go to Dublin."

Toulouse and Perpignan, who will be allocated up to 15,000 tickets each, say they could fill the Marseille Velodrome to its 60,000 capacity if the final was switched to the south of France.