After 15 years, Leinster are back with Croke Park blockbuster – boss Leo Cullen hails record 82,300 sell-out
Game to be staged at GAA HQ as work is being carried out at Aviva Stadium ahead of Europa League final
Leinster's Ryan Baird on his way to scoring a try in front of team-mate James Lowe during last Saturday's Champions Cup quarter-final win over La Rochelle at Aviva Stadium. Photo: Sportsfile
It has been 15 years since Champions Cup tournament organisers EPCR have seen anything like the demand for Leinster’s semi-final clash with Northampton Saints at Croke Park on May 4, as it was announced that the game at the 82,300-capacity stadium was sold out after the public sale yesterday.
In 2009, Leinster and Munster’s seismic last-four clash set a then record attendance for a club rugby match, with 82,208 supporters descending on Croke Park for Leinster’s 25-6 win that altered the course of the biggest rivalry in Irish rugby. With the Aviva Stadium unavailable due to works there ahead of the Europa League final, there were fears that Leinster would not get a big enough crowd befitting of next month’s game.
