Leeside loses lustre for Munster

MUSGRAVE PARK will host its lowest number of Magners League games since the competition’s inception when Munster Rugby announces its home venues for the 2009/10 campaign later this week.

Munster begin the defence of their title with a trip to Glasgow on the first weekend of September and, a week later, take on Cardiff Blues at either Thomond Park or Musgrave Park.

Since the new Thomond Park opened its doors in October 2008, the ‘sold out’ signs went up for every subsequent Magners League game at the 26,000-capacity Limerick venue.

Prior to Thomond’s redevelopment, Magners League games were evenly split between the Cork and Limerick centres, with glamour fixtures against Leinster or Ospreys often fixed for Musgrave Park.

However, Musgrave Park’s smaller capacity (8,000) means it is set to host just three Magners League games in the coming season with the remaining six going to Thomond.

Understandably, Munster Rugby want to maximise their commercial pulling power by moving the majority of their fixtures to Limerick, but the reduced number of fixtures for Musgrave Park will come as blow to Cork’s rugby and business community.

Plans to develop Musgrave Park into an 18,000 capacity stadium are held up due to a number of objections.

Munster Rugby had hoped to rezone 2.7 acres of waste/non-amenity lands on the Kinsale Road side of Musgrave Park, the sale of which was to assist in the redevelopment of a new stadium.

The branch had hoped the sale of this site would partly fund their €30 million redevelopment of Musgrave Park, which they hope to turn into a municipal-style 18,000-capacity stadium.

Yesterday the Chairman of the Musgrave Park Development Committee, Niall O’Driscoll, said they hope to press ahead with plans to develop a new West Stand (permission granted) which would increase capacity to 12,000 and may mean extra games being fixed for Cork in the future.

He said: “We are currently looking at developing the West Stand in case permission will run out over the next couple of years whilst in the meantime we will be using all our endeavours to get permission for the East Stand.”

Musgrave Park, however, has been chosen as the venue for Munster’s two home pre-season friendlies against Sale Sharks on August 14 and seven days later against London Irish.

Meanwhile, Leinster begin their campaign with a game on the road against Scarlets, while new Ulster head coach, Bryan McLaughlin, starts his new term in charge with a trip to Rodney Parade to face Dragons.

Connacht are the only Irish province to start the new season with a home fixture with Michael Bradley’s side welcoming Welsh super region, Ospreys, to the Sportsground.

With the introduction of play-offs to decide the Magners League champions this coming season, there is the prospect of semi-finals to be held over the weekend of May 14 with the season concluding in the first ever Magners League final the weekend of May 28. Specific dates and kick-offs will be released after consultations with broadcast partners and individual teams.