How I’d solve IRFU tickets crux

THE performance apart, the biggest disappointment at the Aviva Stadium last Saturday was the sight of 15,000 empty seats on an historic day for Irish rugby.

The lessons from the ticket fiasco will not be addressed until the autumn series of internationals have run their course, and one fears there will be even more empty seats on view for the games against Samoa and Argentina, despite appeals from the players and management. It is now incumbent on the IRFU and the clubs of Ireland to come together and draw up a workable template for ticket distribution that maximises the necessary revenue streams to fund the professional game without impacting on the amateur clubs balance sheet. It shouldn’t be that difficult.

I would propose a system whereby the clubs are invited by the union to apply for a ticket quota in May for the following season’s international calendar – with certain limits applied for each game. The clubs would be offered a two-week window to confirm their desired requirements which could range from a minimum of, for argument, 50 tickets for less attractive games up to a maximum of 300 for Six Nations matches. The clubs could then commit by written agreement to pay for their full allocation by direct debit three days after each international contest.