Huge demand for Munster tickets

The IRFU, the Munster Branch and Ticketmaster (Dublin) are expected to be inundated with requests for their combined allocation of 22,000 tickets for the Heineken European Cup final between Munster and Northampton at Twickenham on Saturday, May 27th.

European Rugby Cup Ltd (ERC) met at the beginning of the week to thrash out the ticket allocation procedure. The Munster Branch has been allocated 14,000 tickets which they will distribute through familiar channels. The lion's share will go to the clubs with an, as yet undecided, percentage going on sale to the general public from their offices.

It is expected to be oversubscribed. The Munster Branch has confirmed that a price structure of £42, £35 and £15 has been agreed to compensate for the weakness of the Irish pound against sterling. The sterling prices for tickets are £30, £25 and £10.

The IRFU has contacted the other three branches - Ulster, Leinster and Connacht - to ascertain their requirements from its 4,000 allocation: the branches have until Friday to inform the union. The IRFU has not yet announced prices but will do so in the next 48 hours.

Ticketmaster (Dublin) is in the process of setting up a hotline where people can order and purchase the 4,000 tickets it will put on sale. They will not release a phone number until the tickets have arrived and that is expected to happen before the weekend. There is a handling charge or fee for using Ticketmaster.

Supporters may also purchase online at www.ticketmaster.ie when the tickets are available. The website will contain the ticket hotline phone number.

Those who fail to buy tickets at any of the aforementioned outlets need not despair. A further 5,000 are on sale at London Irish rugby club, while 30,000 will be available from Ticketmaster in London at the following number: (0044-207-3444444).

Anyone who is indifferent about the company they keep could ring the Northampton club and try and snaffle a couple of tickets from their quota of 15,500.

While most seeking tickets should be accommodated one way or another, physically getting to London might not prove straightforward. Those who wish to travel by air will soon find themselves stymied. Aer Lingus is exploring avenues to increase the number of seats available. Media and public relations director Declan Conroy explained: "As of now we are fully booked on some of the days leading up to the Saturday because it is the Bank Holiday weekend in Britain to boot. We are looking at ways to increase the capacity on the scheduled flights, using bigger aircraft, but no decision has been taken on that as yet."

Aer Lingus runs 14 flights from Dublin to Heathrow, four from Dublin to London City and three to Gatwick each day. In addition there will be four flights from Cork and four from Shannon, making a grand total of 29.

Ethel Power, head of communication at Ryanair, outlined the company's response to the increased demands. "On a normal day we would have 25 scheduled flights from Dublin to London, four from Cork, one from Kerry, Knock and City of Derry and two from Shannon.

"The demand for seats on Saturday, May 27th has been phenomenal. We have had to charter an additional 10 flights (the breakdown is: Cork four, Shannon three, Dublin three) and even then we expect to be full. We are not into pricing packages and we want to cater for the genuine supporter."

Irish Ferries has come up with a couple of low-cost packages to get people to Twickenham. A special two-day return fare for car and driver from Rosslare to Pembroke is available for £79 while the Dublin-Holyhead fare will cost £109.

Another offer includes a two-night hotel break in London from £119 per person sharing on a car plus four passengers.

Meanwhile, a Youth and Schools conference will take place at the Berkeley Court Hotel on Sunday May 21st from 9.0 a.m. to 5.0 p.m. Under the chairmanship of Liam Hennessy, the IRFU's national director of fitness, a seminar involving five other guest speakers will be held for delegates from all rugby playing schools and clubs catering for players under 18.

It will provide coaches with practical material and guidelines to support their rugby programme. Declan Kidney, coach of the European Cup finalists, Munster, will address the delegates.

The conference will be followed up by workshops on conditioning, training and playing.

Those interested can contact Hennessy at (01) 647 3835 up until 1.30 p.m. each day.