Romania the third part of Ireland’s friendly package at Lansdowne Road

IRELAND will play Romania at Lansdowne Road on Thursday, May 27, in the third of their three-match programme in Dublin in preparation for the kick-off of the new World Cup tournament in September.

Chief Executive Fran Rooney yesterday said all arrangements were now in place for Ireland to play Brazil on February 18, the Czech Republic on March 31, and Romania, and tickets for all three matches will be sold as a package of three costing €60 for an adult and €15 for children under 16.

"We've been looking at ways of marketing our game in a more attractive way and this package is indicative of the type of value we can offer our supporters," he said. "For far less than the cost of one major concert in Dublin, fans can get to see world class opponents and provide Brian's [Kerr] team with the support they deserve."

The FAI have almost completed preparations for an away match against Poland during April and it is probable they will travel to play in the US Cup in America at the end of May.

The FAI have invitations also to travel to Japan and Australia but the USA is the more favoured option, with the first game expected to be on May 31.

Mr Rooney revealed that extra children's tickets have been allocated for the upcoming matches by limiting the Lansdowne Road ground's capacity to 44,000.

"Rather than fill the ground with 48,000 adults, we have kept overall capacity to 44,000 to enable us to allocate 5,000 children's tickets," he said. "We want to bring new supporters to the game all the time and the structure we are setting out helps us achieve this."

Mr Rooney revealed the following arrangements for ticket-sales: Tickets for season and ten year ticket holders, and blockbookers will be available through normal channels. Additional tickets will go on sale to the public on Thursday February 5 through Ticketmaster outlets nationwide.

Three match package prices: Adult terrace €60 (for three matches) Child terrace €15 (for three matches)

Mr Rooney also welcomed the decision of the eircom League clubs to meet with the FAI to further discuss outline proposals which the CEO presented at last Saturday's meeting of the clubs.

"We're delighted that the eircom League clubs have clearly decided they want to engage in further dialogue with the FAI on the possibility of a merger ... whatever emerges," said Rooney.

At its meeting on Monday night, the eircom League clubs nominated six Management Committee members, together with Acting Chairman Declan Ó Luanaigh and Acting General Manager Michael Hayes to meet with the FAI CEO later this week and report back to the League's Management Committee at its next meeting on Wednesday, January 28th Rooney said that the outline proposals put to last Saturday's meeting were a starting point for discussions and consultation between the FAI and the League and stressed: "it's important that we work together, for and with all strands of the game we have that responsibility.

"I believe an inclusive approach is the key to progressing each area of the game in Ireland and in this spirit it's very encouraging that the clubs and the FAI will move our discussions forward by meeting this week," Rooney said.