Munster supporters’ ticket worries allayed

THOSE hoping to get their hands on tickets for the Heineken Cup final on Saturday week were given positive news yesterday when a spokesman for the official Munster Rugby Supporters Club predicted the ticket-rush will calm down closer to match-day.

Glen Flanagan, PRO Munster Supporters Club, said that there has been a full uptake of the 10,000 tickets made available to his official organisation, adding that their 500 Associate Members will also take up their allocation.

However, for those unattached to clubs or schools, Flanagan believes they should not encounter any difficulty on match day.

Ticket fever did hit the province as soon as Munster qualified, but the word on the streets of Limerick and Cork is that there are plenty tickets available, with many unsold tickets now on sale on Ebay.

At the beginning of the month, a Grade One ticket on Ebay would set you back £900 (€1130), but that figure has fallen considerably, according to the website yesterday. Flanagan, however, believes that those who do travel without a ticket should pick one up on the day.

“Judging by what happened in 2006 there was mad panic for the first two weeks and then everyone was okay on the day.

“I even remember some tickets being given away for free close to kick-off.”

Flanagan expects up to 50,000 Munster supporters to attend the final in the Millennium Stadium.

Two years ago, Munster had close to 65,000 inside the Cardiff stadium, with just 5,000 Biarritz supporters attending the final. Munster’s 16 man played its part in edging their team over the finishing line, as did the 20,000 on O’Connell Street, Limerick watching the final on a big screen. That image was flashed up on the screen inside the stadium with 20 minutes remaining, and those who played that day said the sight inspired them to the title.

A similar screen will be erected on O’Connell Street on May 24, though it’s unlikely the tv editor will repeat showing a packed street.

Meanwhile, Toulouse has sold their allocation of 4,000 tickets though according to a club spokesman they could have sold twice that number. Thousands queued for the 1,500 made available to the general public with many left disappointed.

Toulouse have two charter flights and a dozen 154-seater buses chartered for the final, all of which are booked out.