Ravenhill to host World Cup send-off

RAVENHILL is to host a full Irish senior international for the first time in over half a century.

IRFU chiefs yesterday revealed that Ireland will play Scotland and Italy in friendly internationals in August 2007 as part of their preparations for the Rugby World Cup in France the following month — with the latter game set for the Ulster venue.

Ireland will begin their warm up programme on Saturday, August 11, 2007, when they take on the Scots at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh.