Munster line up Páirc Uí Chaoimh date with world champion Springboks

GAA Central Council to consider request from Cork GAA on Saturday.

TIME TO SHINE: Cork GAA has formalised a request to Croke Park to stage the game at Páirc Uí Chaoimh against the Springboks and it will be debated at a Central Council meeting this weekend, Examiner Sport understands.

The GAA’s Central Council will on Saturday consider a request from Cork GAA to permit it to host a glamour rugby clash between Munster and world champions South Africa at Páirc Ui Chaoimh in November.

Munster – the only Irish province with a licence to host international touring sides - are holding off announcing the fixture until the GAA’s Ard Comhairle approves use of the Cork stadium for November 10.

Cork GAA has formalised a request to Croke Park to stage the game against the Springboks, which will be considered by Central Council under Rule 5.1 of the Official Guide and GAA Policy on Use of GAA Property and Facilities.

GAA rules now permit use of GAA grounds by other sports where the event is considered by Ard Chomhairle to be exceptional in nature and of national significance. The protocols on the use of GAA stadia were updated in the wake of the controversy surrounding the use of Páirc Ui Chaoimh in Cork for the Liam Miller tribute game four years ago.

Back channel discussions have been ongoing for some time between Munster Rugby and Cork GAA on the use of Páirc Ui Chaoimh, set against the backdrop of frustration by Cork-based Munster rugby supporters who feel they get the thin edge of the fixtures wedge comopared to Limerick.

Munster Rugby are keen to bring the glamour game to Cork, but will still host the world champions at Thomond Park in Limerick if approval is not forthcoming from the GAA.

That would seem unlikely given the status of the game in terms of national sporting interest, the relaxation of restrictions on GAA stadia in such a scenario and the well-ventilated financial issues of Cork GAA, and the debt burden overhanging the stadium, which cost ¢96m to redevelop.

The capacity of Thomond Park is around 26,000. Given the uniqueness of the occasion, Munster would hope to sell out the 45,000 capacity home of Cork GAA for the visit of the world champions.

Agreement for the fixture has been signed by both Munster Rugby and the South African Rugby Board - with venue to be confirmed - and has the appropriate sanction of the IRFU. A formal request from the IRFU to the GAA’s Ard Comhairle requesting the use of the stadium in Cork will also follow, as required under rule.

The Boks play Ireland at the Aviva Stadium the previous Saturday, November 5, before travelling to Marseille to meet France on November 12, so they are unlikely to be at full strength for the Munster clash. Nevertheless, the occasion should prove a big draw for rugby and GAA followers.

It is estimated that the Munster-Springboks game would be worth around €200,000 in terms of stadium rental and food and beverage percentages, which is modest compared to the take from summer concerts featuring Ed Sheeran. Elton John, and Westlife in 2022. However it would be a valuable global showcasing of the Cork GAA HQ for future commercial opportunities.

It is unlikely too there would be any disruption of GAA activity at that time of the season, when the club campaigns would be all but done.

In preparatory documents for Central Council members, Cork GAA CEO Kevin O’Donovan sets out the rationale for the move: “Large scale events represent a key component to the success of the current Páirc Uí Chaoimh business plan. Current targets are based on securing at least three major events within each financial year. While the stadium hosted five concerts in 2022, there are no concerts currently confirmed for 2023. Also, the geographical location of the stadium nationally makes it challenging to secure major GAA events on a regular basis.

“Meeting current debt repayments is an arduous task and is predicated on the success of the business plan.” 

 Cork is currently repaying a number of loans as it bids to bring down the debt on the stadium redevelopment, including a GAA loan of €10.9m, a €500,00 annual repayment by Cork County Board, a Bank of Ireland debt of €21.2m, an annual repayment of €1m by Páirc Uí Chaoimh in 2022 (which increases to €1.5m in 2023. The sale of lands at Kilbarry, on the northern fringes of Cork city, is expected to reduce the debt significantly within the next twelve months.