Munster date to face Saints is confirmed

MUNSTER last night found out the precise date of their Heineken Cup pool finale against Northampton Saints after the English side were granted their request to host the Irish province in Milton Keynes on Saturday, January 21, 2012.

Faced with pressure from fans to finalise a date, Saints had pressed competition organisers ERC to make an early decision on the round six match day. Having already decided to switch the game from their Franklin’s Gardens home ground to the larger stadium:MK, which hosted last season’s quarter-final and semi-final against Ulster and Perpignan respectively, Northampton had lobbied strongly for a Saturday game to accommodate their supporters.

“We’re delighted that ERC have listened to our request about holding the Munster match on a Saturday,” Saints chief executive Allan Robson said. “Saints is a traditional Saturday club, and we’re now able to make the match the focal point of a great weekend of Heineken Cup rugby that fans from both clubs will enjoy together. We are excited and can now put everything in place for a day to remember.” The kick-off time will be confirmed in the week before Christmas, a Saints spokesman said.