Croker ready for dual challenge

THE captain’s run before Sunday’s Ireland-Australia rugby international at Croke Park will take place tomorrow rather than the day before the game, due to Republic of Ireland’s World Cup play-off with France at GAA headquarters on Saturday night.

As soon as the rugby players finish their sessions tomorrow the goalposts will come down in advance of the soccer players’ preparations. Ireland and France will then train in the stadium on Friday.

That’s just one of the headaches in managing two international clashes within less than 24 hours of each other. Alan Gallagher, the Croke Park operations manager, says all the necessary equipment, rugby and soccer posts included, is already on site to minimise disruption for local residents.