Leinster hoping to play Heineken Cup at RDS

LEINSTER CEO Mick Dawson has confirmed that they are in negotiations to play their Heineken Cup games this season at the RDS grounds in Ballsbridge, Dublin.

Dawson is hopeful Leinster will make their debut at the venue in October when they open their European campaign against Bath.

Talks between the Leinster Branch and the Royal Dublin Society are ongoing and are believed to be down to the “fine detail” stage.

Leinster are looking for a new venue because Dawson believes that their home ground in Donnybrook is “too small”, but says the alternative at Lansdowne Road is “too big.”

“The RDS has a fantastic atmosphere,” Dawson said, adding “and in terms of size is just right.”

“We would have to put in temporary seating on three sides of the ground. That would be costly and we would have to sell more tickets, so there is a risk element. But we would see the RDS as having many other added bonuses.”

The Leinster brand recently spent some €500,000 upgrading the two pitches at Donnybrook, but with the ground having a capacity of between 6,000 and 7,000, as against the 13,000 capacity at the RDS, it has been deemed as unsuitable and uneconomic for Heineken Cup rugby.

Similarly, Lansdowne Road, which Leinster used for several European ties last season, is deemed as being too big and lacking in atmosphere.

The RDS was home to Shamrock Rovers in the early 1990s, and because of the stadium’s main use as a show jumping arena, there were concerns about a variety of medical issues, including tetanus.

Leinster say they have sent their own medical and agronomy experts to examine the RDS surface and they have assured the branch that it is suitable for rugby.

As some of the games will be played in December, the issue of floodlighting is also potentially problematic, but Leinster say that cherry pickers, which have been used successfully for the purpose in the UK, will be utilised.