The Irish Rugby Football Union has voiced its delight that Lansdowne Road has been chosen to host this season's Heineken Cup final, on Saturday, May 24th, 2003. The Union believes it represents a marvellous acknowledgement of Dublin as a fitting venue for the staging of major representative rugby fixtures. Lansdowne Road was also host to the final in 1999 when a capacity attendance of 49,500 watched Ulster defeat Colomiers in a memorable match.

"It is another marvellous fillip to Irish rugby that Lansdowne Road has again been nominated to host the Heineken Cup final." said IRFU Chief Executive, Philip Browne. "It is a wonderful endorsement of Dublin as a capable and popular rugby destination. This latest recognition for Irish rugby further underlines the IRFU's determination to have at its disposal an even larger capacity stadium with full modern facilities and infrastructure." " We believe a stadium with a capacity of circa 60,000 is compatible with public interest and demands." "?While awaiting an update from the Government regarding the prospect of the National Stadium, the IRFU is currently considering its own Stadium options including Lansdowne Road. Any project of this nature would require Government funding."

The IRFU underlines the compelling argument that there is a healthy dividend to be gained from having the facilities to stage major rugby and other international sports events in Dublin. This is also illustrated in an economic impact assessment conducted by the Dublin Chamber of Commerce relating to the Heineken Cup final being played at Lansdowne Road in 2003. Based on an approximate 30,000 visitors coming to Dublin specifically for the weekend of the final, the Dublin Chamber of Commerce reports that €40 to €50 million will be generated to the Exchequer.

That critical contribution during a troubled period for tourism in Ireland would be greater if measured against the facility of a rugby stadium with a 60,000 capacity.

The IRFU stresses that revenue derived from international fixtures is the financial engine behind game development and increased participation of rugby and that the provision of the best facilities will provide the financial streams that fund the grass roots development of the game throughout Ireland.