IRFU’s €3m boost

Irish rugby stands to hit a jackpot of more than €3m from their triple-pronged assault on recapturing the European Cup.

The massive presence of Leinster, Munster and Ulster in the last eight for the first time will be worth €1,350,000 to the IRFU under bonus payments.

All three reaching the semi-finals will be worth twice as much with other seven-figure sums to be earned from gate revenue and sponsorship. “The countries of the clubs in the knock-out stage will share more than €3.5m in meritocracy payments,” a spokesman for the tournament organisers, European Rugby Cup Ltd, said. “That figure will increase to almost €7m over the entire knock-out stage.”