IRFU set to hit €15m jackpot

IRISH rugby coffers are set to be boosted by €15m after this year’s Six Nations Championship.

Declan Kidney’s Grand Slam champions open their title defence against Italy on Saturday and with Croke Park dates with Wales (March 13) and Scotland (March 20) to come, the IRFU bank account looks set to be swelled.

Experts predict the union can earn up to €5m per match after paying for match day costs and rental to their hosts, the GAA.

The figure is almost double what the IRFU would have earned had the game been played at the old Lansdowne Road, which had a capacity of 49,000 while the Jones Road venue can hold 82,300 people.

The new Avia Stadium, which will host rugby internationals from autumn onwards, will hold 50,000.

Under their agreement with the GAA – which ends after the championship – the IRFU are in charge of all advertising in the stadium on match day and can also earn significant revenue from premium corporate level services.