Munster 'continue preparations' for December Champions Cup fixture at Páirc Uí Chaoimh

HISTORIC OCCASION: Plans to host a Champions Cup game at the home of Cork GAA next season were "approved in principle by GAA Central Council back in March.

Munster are set to play a European fixture in Cork for the first time in 23 years as the province have confirmed they are "continuing preparations" to host a Champions Cup pool fixture at SuperValu Páirc Ui Chaoimh in December.

The province's participation in the 2025/26 next season’s Champions Cup was confirmed after securing back-to-back bonus-point wins against Ulster and Benetton to finish 6th in the URC standings.

Plans to host a Champions Cup game at the home of Cork GAA next season were "approved in principle" by GAA Central Council back in March.

The last European Cup pool game played in Cork was in December 2002, when Munster hosted Viadana at Virgin Media Park, then known as Musgrave Park. 

Both previous Munster games at Páirc Uí Chaoimh - against the Crusaders and South Africa A - were sell-outs with attendances of over 40,000.

The 41,400 attendance for the Munster v South Africa A game in November 2022 was a record crowd for rugby in the province.

“I would like to congratulate the playing and coaching group for all their hard work in recent weeks in securing two bonus-point wins which resulted in our qualification for next season’s Champions Cup," Munster CEO Ian Flanagan said.

“This competition is hugely important to us and our supporters, and qualification allows us to continue our preparations for hosting a pool fixture in Cork later this year.

“While we understand that there will be those that are used to seeing our Champions Cup matches in Thomond Park, we feel we have a great opportunity to do something a little different next season.

“A lot of consideration has gone into the decision to move a Champions Cup pool game to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh but showcasing a high-profile competitive fixture to a wider audience is a strategic goal of ours and this aligns with the feedback we have received from many of our supporters.

“Unfortunately, the December Champions Cup pool fixtures in Thomond Park have experienced falling attendances over the last two seasons and the staging of this game in Páirc Uí Chaoimh offers us the opportunity to accommodate more supporters at that match and improve our financial stability which in the current climate is imperative.” 

Munster Chief Operating Officer Philip Quinn added: “As we have seen in recent years, costs related to the running of the professional game, and indeed at all levels across the province, have increased for multiple reasons. Those costs will continue to rise rather than fall. In order to improve our financial stability and ensure we remain adequately funded, viable and competitive, we need to weigh up all opportunities which can result in increases in revenue.

“Based on our forecasts, we believe we will achieve a significant financial uplift from hosting this December pool fixture in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh compared to Thomond Park.

“In addition to this, the larger capacity of Páirc Uí Chaoimh will allow even more people to experience a competitive Munster Rugby European matchday which provides a fantastic opportunity to grow our support base, not just in Cork but right across the southern part of the province.

“We have listened to plenty of supporter feedback from our games against South Africa XV and the Crusaders and we will work tirelessly to ensure the matchday experience is of the highest quality.”