Leicester Tigers rally to produce ticket allocation

LEICESTER TIGERS look certain to come up with the tickets needed to retain their Heineken Cup quarter-final against Munster at Welford Road.

By last night almost 100 had been returned by supporters in response to Leicester’s appeal for the 147 needed to supply the Irish side with their allocation of 4,000.

“It’s absolutely brilliant. We’ve just under 100 after 24 hours and we’ll get the 147,” said a club spokesman. Chairman Pete Tom, senior management, staff and players have all returned tickets in a bid to dig the club out of a hole.

Tigers received a massive boost yesterday when Bradstone, their main sponsors, returned about 24, while past president Tony Hopkins gave up a family block of seven.

Hopkins also took a swipe at European Rugby Cup Ltd, the tournament organisers. “I wonder how many tickets are being taken by European Cup Ltd?” said Hopkins.

“It appears this is another example of a rugby organising body arranging a club match and ignoring the needs of the paying customer.”

Leicester have been given a deadline of Friday week but ERC said the affair was now done and dusted and that the match would be played at Welford Road on April 13. “They will come up with the 4,000,” said spokesman Diarmaid Murphy.

Murphy said Munster had to have the full 4,000, although if Leicester fall just short it’s unlikely that ERC will risk a PR disaster by then insisting the match be moved. Murphy also denied rumours ERC threatened to switch the match abroad, possibly even to Munster.

“That’s a new one on me,” said Murphy. “I have heard lots of speculation and rumours, but I have never heard that one.”

The row was sparked by different interpretations of the participation agreement which says 25% of the tickets available for sale go to the visitors.

ERC say that is a quarter of the gate. However, Leicester say it is a quarter of those left after their members have been taken care of. Coincidentally, a precedent appears to have been set when Gloucester played Munster in a pool game.

Gloucester are said to have received just 1,600 of the 12,000 tickets available for the game in Ireland. Munster say both clubs agreed not to take up their full allocation for the away game. A Gloucester spokesman denied this.

Murphy said: “ERC have not really got a view on that because, as we understand it, a deal was done between Gloucester and Munster,” he said.