Leinster and Ulster exits hit IRFU coffers

A weekend that promised to be a financial bonanza for Irish rugby ended in disappointment at the Stade Felix Mayol yesterday with Leinster’s defeat by Toulon following on Ulster’s elimination by Saracens at Ravenhill on Saturday.

Three Irish sides in the semi-finals carried the potential for bonus payments of €2.4m in prize money for the IRFU, along with another €600,000 in rental fees for a semi-final clash of Leinster and Munster at the Aviva Stadium, along with considerable sponsorship and commercial deals.

However, Munster are left as this country’s only representatives in the last four from which they will earn €800,000, with two thirds snapped up by the union and about €260,000 accruing to the Munster Branch.