European Cup: If Leinster qualify for a home quarter-final in next season's Heineken European Cup the game will be played in London.
A long-term stadium sharing agreement with the RDS is expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks but the famous horse show ground is closed for 12 months from September to undergo redevelopment.
With the Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company hopeful they will receive planning permission to begin construction before January, Leinster will have to play their last two European pool matches at the 7,000-capacity Donnybrook.
This would lead to a substantial loss of revenue from this season, when they put 42,000 into the RDS over the three home pool matches.
"Hopefully, if we reach the quarter-final of the Heineken (Cup) and if we get a home draw it would be a headache for us all but I think - and this is not set in stone - we would have to look at somewhere in London," said Leinster CEO Mick Dawson. "With the support that is there for rugby, for Leinster in particular, as you know in 2003 before it became really popular we managed to get 48,000 to see the Biarritz quarter-final."
No stadium has been singled out yet. The suggestion of switching to Croke Park was raised but the GAA sharing terms are for international rugby and soccer matches during the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road.
Munster and Ulster will face the same problem if they qualify for a "home" draw in the European knockout stages. Munster CEO Garret Fitzgerald refused to confirm the province would move abroad but did admit it was being considered.
"It has been flagged and discussed at committee level. The only place to play such a game at present is Lansdowne Road but no decision has been made."
Dawson stated the difficulties experienced by the Donnybrook surface would be avoided next season despite a greater number of Leinster games expected to be played there. "We're going to get four months growing this summer (as opposed to two months last year). Secondly, we have had a meeting with both our tenant clubs, and with the schools, and there is a commitment . . . to reduce the number of games in Donnybrook."
Meanwhile, Leinster announced Brian McLoughlin has stood down as chairman of the Leinster provincial team management committee. Director of rugby Paul McNaughton takes over the role, which includes representing the province on the IRFU committee that overseas the professional game in Ireland.
McNaughton will not be replaced as director but Michael Cheika will be afforded greater responsibilities as head coach.
Leinster hope to announce the signing of Australian flanker Owen Finegan, blindside wing forward on the 1999 World Cup winning team, from the Newcastle Falcons later this week.
Brian O'Meara, Brian O'Riordan, Johnny Hepworth, James Norton, Eric Miller, Bryce Williams and David Blaney will no longer be contracted to the province. O'Meara has been released but is player coach for Lansdowne; O'Riordan signed for Bristol; Williams for Bourgoin; Norton and Miller have retired.
Des Dillon has one year left on his contract and is expected to return from the Ospreys ahead of next season, while the management are actively seeking another prop and hooker.
Eight players have been awarded development contracts, including Clontarf pair John Wickham and Robert Sweeney.
LEINSTER IN AND OUT
In: Chris Whitaker (NSW Waratahs), Stephen Keogh (Munster), Trevor Hogan (Munster), Owen Finnegan (Newcastle - unconfirmed, contractual talks remain ongoing), Des Dillon (to return from load spell with Ospreys).
Out: Bryce Williams (Bourgoin), Brian O'Riordan (Bristol), Eoghan Hickey (Connacht), James Norton (retired), Eric Miller (retired), David Blaney (out of contract), Jonathan Hepworth (out of contract), Brian O'Meara (out of contract).
Development contracts: John Wickham, Jonathan Sexton, Devin Toner, Kevin McLaughlin, Ross McCarron, Stephen Grissing, Richie Leyden, Robert Sweeney.
Academy recruits: Cian Fitzgerald, Vasya Healy, Luke Artemiev, Cian Culleton, Gavin O'Meara, Conor McInerney, Ian Keatley, James Power, Cian McNaughton, Fergus McFadden.
