Madam, – As a past president of one of its provincial branches, I am very aware that the IRFU is a non-profit organisation whose chief duty is to support the game throughout the country. Obviously this requires large financial resources. However, I feel that financial interests have become too powerful.
The ridiculous pricing for International matches, together with the lack of terrestrial television coverage will markedly reduce the exposure of the game. This applies particularly for those living outside Dublin who not only face the exorbitant charges but also travel costs accentuated by the late starts for many of the matches.
The future of rugby in Ireland is dependent on selling the game to the young and their parents, and if they can neither afford to attend the international matches nor see them on television, then their interest will diminish. As we should have learnt after the collapse following the Celtic Tiger years, short-term financial gain may result in long-term catastrophic loss. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – In pointing out that the cost of attending the recent Australia v Ireland game was as little as AUD$35, Pat Dignam (August 21st) neglected to mention one or two other features of attending that game. First, possession of a match ticket entitled the holder to free public transport to and from the game (all handled with jaw-dropping efficiency) and second, that refreshments were very reasonably priced and the weather was fantastic. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Coming in on the Dart one morning, one could see the new Lansdowne Road/Aviva stadium prominent on the skyline above a tideless Sandymount Strand. It looked just like a giant beached jellyfish. Then came to mind the tentacles underneath jellyfish which equated to the IRFU – and there, as every rugby supporter knows, lies “the sting”. – Yours etc,
Madam, – As an Irish rugby fan living in exile, I make a point of returning home every year for one of the autumn internationals.
With flights and hotel already booked, I am now faced with the option of paying €340 to see a single Ireland game, with the other tickets in the package going to waste. Alternatively, I could pay a total of £100 to watch Scotland take on South Africa and New Zealand in November (£25 each), as well as the Six Nations game against Ireland in February (£50).
Sadly, it would appear that the winners in this particular equation are Dublin’s bars and the SRU, and the loser is Irish rugby. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Whatever one’s view regarding the ticket prices for the upcoming rugby internationals, one thing for certain is that those prices put a serious onus on the Irish international players to deliver a richly rewarding performance for the generous supporters in the autumn series. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – May I offer the following advice to those people who fear that IRFU ticket prices will prevent their children from developing a love of rugby: 1. Join their local rugby club. There is a vibrant rugby scene in Ireland linked to the local community. 2. Encourage their children to play underage rugby. Rugby was always a game more enjoyed by participating rather than watching. By playing, children will also make friends for life. 3. Support Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan in his efforts to ensure that Irish internationals are available to “free to air” television, which will ensure that the people who provided most of the funds for the new stadium can watch their team performing there.
Remember, even if access to the new stadium was €1, there would still only be capacity for 50,000. Rugby was, and is, far more than just internationals. – Yours, etc,