Heineken Cup: Llanelli fear semi-final switch

Llanelli could be forced to play outside Wales or turn spectators away if they are drawn at home in the Heineken Cup semi-finals.

The teams first and third out of the hat when the draw for Europe’s premier club competition is made on Tuesday week will have the advantage of playing at a neutral venue in their home country.

However, Llanelli’s bid to play at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium has hit serious problems.

The FA Cup final is scheduled for Saturday, May 4, a week after the Heineken semi-finals, and the FA’s agreement with the Stadium precludes any other match being played there in the preceding 10 days.

Llanelli chief executive Stuart Gallacher today spoke to Glanmor Griffiths, chairman of the Welsh Rugby Union and Millennium Stadium plc, to try and resolve the potential issue.

‘‘I believe if we get a home draw the situation can be resolved, but the first thing we have to do is wait for the semi-final draw,’’ Gallacher said. ‘‘I’m optimistic we can get it sorted out.’’

If the Football Association hold firm, as they are expected to after previous problems over the state of the Millennium Stadium pitch, the only other ground in Wales capable of meeting the minimum crowd requirement of 20,000 is Cardiff City’s Ninian Park, with a capacity of 22,000.

But that is not expected to be big enough to meet demands if Llanelli draw Leicester or Munster, although it would almost certainly suffice for a match against French side Castres.

Derek McGrath, chief executive of organisers European Rugby Cup, today ruled out any possibility of solving the problem by bringing the semi-final forward a week, which would clash with England’s Powergen Cup final.

Although Leicester are no longer involved in that competition, he said: ‘‘The decision we made on the season’s structure and calendar are fixed and there is no question of altering that.

‘‘There are broadcasting contracts in place and we would not hold our final the same weekend as England’s Powergen Cup final, just as we would not expect anyone else to alter their schedule and clash with us.’’

McGrath believes estimates in Wales that a rematch between Llanelli and holders Leicester, a team the Welsh side have already beaten this season, could attract a 50,000 semi-final crowd are optimistic. And Munster, with a huge travelling army of fans, would also attract a bumper gate.

‘‘I would love to think we could but the likelihood is very slim,’’ he said.

Last season the semi-finals drew crowds of 20,000 in Lille and 14,000 at Watford, and McGrath said:

‘‘We believe a 20,000 minimum is still generally about right.’’

European Cup Rugby will want the venue issue settled before the draw is made so that all details of pairings, dates and venues can be made next Tuesday.

McGrath added: ‘‘If the Millennium Stadium is not available we will be looking at Ninian Park as an alternative.’’

A spokesman for the Welsh Rugby Union said: ‘‘We have checked on Ninian Park and it is available, but everything depends on the draw.’’

The final is already scheduled for the Millennium Stadium, but he added: ‘‘I can’t see the semi-final going there on two grounds.

‘‘The English FA are likely to want to adhere to their agreement and I have not come across a case when the semi-final and final have been played at the same venue before.

‘‘It could be seen as giving one side an advantage if they have already played their semi-final there.’’