Rugby

Leinster to play home matches at the Aviva Stadium and Croke Park next season

The RDS, the province’s regular home, is set to undergo redevelopment work that will see next year’s matches relocated

The Aviva Stadium will act as Leinster's home ground for next season. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho

Nathan Johns
Thu Apr 18 2024 - 14:20

Leinster will play the majority of their home matches next season at the Aviva Stadium as the RDS undergoes development work, the province has confirmed. A number of matches will also be held at Croke Park while women’s interpros will continue to be hosted at Energia Park in Donnybrook.

At present, Leinster currently play their home URC match against Munster, one Champions Cup pool game and home knockout European clashes in the Aviva. However, with the RDS likely to be out of action, the province has made arrangements to move the majority of their home matches, both in the URC and Champions Cup, to Lansdowne Road.

Last weekend, Leinster sold out the national team’s home venue for their European semi-final clash with La Rochelle, while they sold 40,775 tickets the week previous for the match against Leicester Tigers.

With the Aviva set to host this year’s Europa League final, Leinster line out against Northampton Saints at Croke Park on May 4 in the Champions Cup semi-final. They previously played at GAA HQ against Munster in the same stage of the 2009 Heineken Cup in front of what was a world record crowd for club rugby.

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It remains unclear which games next season will be at Croke Park, the province stating that “a number” of matches will be held at Jones’ Road. The Aviva Stadium will be used by the Ireland soccer team when they play England in the Nations League on September 7, but it remains to be seen if any URC fixtures are scheduled for that weekend.

Leinster have said that they intend to return to the RDS, which will be “much improved for supporters”, in the future.

The province has also announce that season ticket prices for 2024/25 will not increase. Given the refurbishment, season ticket holders will not have access to their old seats at the RDS once Leinster return, but a priority purchase window will be offered to next season’s holders when matches are once again played at the province’s usual home.

Nathan Johns

Nathan Johns

Nathan Johns is an Irish Times journalist

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