No World Cup at Lansdowne Road

Organisers of the 2007 World Cup were today forced to re-think the venues for one of the series of pool matches after the Irish Rugby Football Union announced that Lansdowne Road would not be available.

The French Rugby Federation had planned to use the Dublin venue as a base for one of the three-team groups but the dates clash with the planned redevelopment of Lansdowne Road.

IRFU chief executive Philip Browne said: “As we plan to commence the rebuilding of Lansdowne Road in 2006 – and that programme will continue into 2008 – we would not be in a position to stage the World Cup games in Ireland.

“Whilst this is disappointing for Irish rugby, it is incumbent upon the IRFU at this stage to inform Rugby World Cup Ltd and the French Federation of our position as the commercial and logistical plans for RWC 2007 are being addressed at the present time.”