No cheap seats for Leinster semi-final

European Cup ticket arrangements: European Rugby Cup Ltd (ERC) has confirmed there will be no schoolboy or family tickets available for either the Heineken European Cup semi-final between Leinster and Perpignan at Lansdowne Road on Sunday week or, for that matter, the final on May 24th.

The semi-finals come under the auspices of the ERC, unlike the quarter-finals which were the responsibility of the respective home teams.

The cheapest ticket (terrace) for the semi-final will be €18, with the most expensive, category one stand tickets, at €52.

ERC media manager Diarmuid Murphy explained: "We don't do it and never have done in the past. The IRFU and Leinster may operate a schoolboy enclosure but we will not. It will be the same for the final."

Munster chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald has confirmed that the province has received an initial allocation of 12,000 tickets for their semi-final against Toulouse on Saturday, April 26th, with an option on another 2,000-3,000 tickets if required. They will be distributed through the normal channels, clubs and schools, and a percentage will also be made available to the public from the offices in Thomond Park and Musgrave Park.

He doesn't envisage too many problems for the supporters who wish to follow Munster's remarkable odyssey in Europe. It is expected that Alan Gaffney's team can count on the Red Army numbering in the region of 10,000 for the trip to Toulouse.

In a statement, the Munster Branch said: "The team, management and everyone associated with Munster rugby wish to thank all of our supporters and reaffirm that the semi-final ticket allocation and distribution channels will be sufficient to eliminate unnecessary queuing.

"Tickets will be distributed in the following manner: all affiliated clubs and bodies of the Munster Branch will be issued with tickets. Tickets will go on public sale at Thomond Park and Musgrave Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday 16th, Thursday 17th and Friday, April 18th. Prices are €12 and €18.

"Travel agents will receive an allocation, if requested.

"Supporters club members can order their tickets in the normal manner. Members who have access to public sales outlets are encouraged to use same to alleviate administration. Credit card bookings can be made on 021 4315767, on the aforementioned days. Postage and nominal booking fee will apply."

A spokesperson for the Leinster Branch pointed out that they had already received back from Perpignan 10,000 tickets of the French club's 22,000 allocation, with the probability of more to come. Perpignan brought only about 100 supporters to last Friday night's quarter-final against Llanelli at Stradey Park.

It guarantees that there should be in excess of 32,000 tickets available to Leinster supporters. They will be distributed through the clubs, while the schools have been asked to contact the branch - it being the Easter holidays - to satisfy their requirements.

Tickets are priced €18, €32, €36, €44 and €52.

ERC is responsible for Internet sales on www.IrishRugby.ie, www.LeinsterRugby.ie, and www.ticketmaster.ie.

Or you can call Ticketmaster on (from the Republic) 0818 719 300; (from Britain and Northern Ireland) 0870 243 44 55; (from outside Ireland and Britain) 00353 1 456 9569.

By lunch-time yesterday, 8,000 tickets for the Leinster match had been sold on-line.

Tickets for the European Cup final will go on sale after the semi-finals. A tranche of 6,000 was released earlier in the season and sold out within two hours. The competing teams will receive in excess of 18,000 tickets each for the final.