250 extra 10-year tickets released for Limerick ground

MUNSTER rugby chiefs have released 250 additional ten-year-tickets for their new ground in Limerick.

The initial offer of 1,500 tickets released in January sold out in a matter of weeks, but following ‘unprecedented demand’ an extra allocation has been made public.

The tickets are priced at €5,500 and include many exclusive benefits, including prime seats and a guarantee of tickets for a certain number of Magners League and Heineken Cup games at the old Thomond Park venue which is set to open next autumn.

Pat Whelan, the chairman of new stadium re-development company said: “There was an unprecedented response to the initial release of ten-year tickets and we have now secured agreement for an additional 250 to cater for supporters.”

He added that Munster fans can log onto www.newlimerickrugbystadium.com for more details.

Meanwhile, Peter Stringer will captain Munster tomorrow night for the Magners League visit of Edinburgh to Musgrave Park (7.30pm).

Said coach Declan Kidney of the decision to give Stringer the role ahead of returning vice-captain Ronan O’Gara: “Peter has a few games under his belt, while this is Ronan’s first game back. He (Stringer) is one of our natural leaders so, in the circumstances, the choice was fairly straightforward.”

O’Gara is named in place of Paul Warwick and Denis Hurley is in ahead of Shaun Payne, while Kieran Lewis returns to the outside-centre berth with Rua Tipoki named on the bench. In the pack, Federico Pucciariello replaces Marcus Horan, Jerry Flannery comes in for Frankie Sheahan and Denis Leamy, who came on as a second-half replacement in the game against the Glasgow Warriors, retains the Number 8 jersey.

Meanwhile, an IRFU Disciplinary committee saw no need to impose any sanction on Frank Sheahan who had been cited for an incident in the game against Warriors. A disciplinary panel of the IRFU found that, whilst the citing was proven, it did not warrant a red card and, therefore, no sanction was handed down .

Meanwhile, Scottish international prop Allan Jacobsen has been handed his first start of the league season as he reclaims the number one shirt for Edinburgh after successfully overcoming a serious calf injury.

The 29-year-old prop’s World Cup adventure came to a premature end when he tore his calf muscle against Portugal in Scotland’s opening match of the tournament in September.

Fellow Scotland prop Craig Smith is ruled out with a calf problem and Argentina international front rower Augusto Allori provides cover on the bench. Meanwhile, versatile back-rower/winger Roland Reid is absent from club duties as the Scotland international is getting married in South Africa with Fergus Pringle moving to the bench.

MUNSTER: D Hurley; B Carney, K Lewis, L Mafi, I Dowling; R O’Gara, P Stringer capt; F Pucciariello, J Flannery, J Hayes; D O’Callaghan, M O’Driscoll; A Quinlan, D Wallace, D Leamy.

Replacements: T Buckley, F Sheahan, A Foley, AN Other, T O’Leary, P Warwick, R Tipoki.

EDINBURGH: H. Southwell, A Turnbull, B Cairns, N De Luca, S Webster, D Blair, M Blair; G Kerr, R Ford, C Smith, C Hamilton, B Gissing, A Hogg (captain), R Rennie, S Cross.

Replacements: A Kelly, A Allori, M Mustchin, F Pringle, B Meyer, P Godman, J Houston.