IRFU CHIEF executive Philip Browne has categorically ruled out any plans to play international rugby or soccer matches in Croke Park when the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road is completed in April next year.

Speaking to The Irish Times, Browne outlined irreversible commitments the Lansdowne Road Development Company (LRSDC) have made to their commercial partners and those who purchased corporate or premium tickets for the new, 50,000-seater stadium.

"Are we going to be moving matches to Croke Park? The answer is no," Browne stated firmly.

"The reality is Lansdowne Road has been built on the premise that we will play our full fixture list there. It is funded by way of commercial contracts with our suppliers, our 10-year ticket holders, with our box holders, potentially with a naming rights holder and with our catering franchise, all of whom have entered commercial arrangements on the basis that there is going to be a full set of rugby internationals and a full set of soccer internationals and a number of concerts every year."

This reaction comes after GAA president Nickey Brennan, earlier this week, had welcomed the expected debate of a proposed Clare motion to next April's annual Congress which seeks a vote to allow future rugby and soccer internationals take place in Croke Park.

There has been an assumption recently that GAA headquarters, with its 82,300 (76,000 for soccer) capacity, would remain a viable alternative for significant, one-off games, but this has never been an IRFU consideration.

"The reality is it was never planned that we would move matches out (of Lansdowne again), and in fact it was never an option. And obviously we were reading what's being said in the papers by the GAA, but that's news to us," Browne continued.

"As regards our programme of international matches - which is our autumn internationals, Six Nations matches and Heineken Cup matches, that are all part and parcel of the normal fixture list - they are going into Lansdowne Road, because if we pull them out of Lansdowne Road effectively it's costing us money to do so. We are unpicking deals that have already been done.

"Our sponsors and catering franchises will have done all their projections on the basis of a full set of internationals. We start taking them out and it affects their bottom line, it affects their ability to make their contract workable and it affects the ability of the stadium up there to actually wash its face on an annual basis.

"The whole thing is planned on the basis that we play our matches there. It has been planned financially. We can't start unpicking all that now. It's too late."

FAI sources also stated this week it would not be financially viable to use Croke Park after 2010, due to the minimum rental payment of €1.3 million (or 26.5 per cent of the ticket revenue, which tended to be higher) that must be paid to the GAA.

Browne also confirmed the first sporting event to be held at the new Lansdowne Road would be a rugby match. The redevelopment is on schedule with the pitch expected to be ready by August of next year.

"There are all sorts of variables there. But yes, a rugby match will be the first (sporting) event in the stadium. The (actual) opening will be a non-sporting event."

The IRFU have sold a large majority of their corporate boxes and 10-year premium tickets (for €15,000), and kept some in reserve for sponsors. There is a waiting list of over 1,000 for 10-year tickets. Some €50 million has already been "banked" to cover development costs.

There will be another 36,000 tickets available per game for other parts of the ground and these will be distributed through the traditional method of the affiliated clubs.

The FAI are in significantly more difficult position, having introduced a tiered price scheme for their 10-year tickets, although Browne was confident this would not hinder the funding process.

"We have no concerns on that front. Everything is moving forward as planned. It is all systems go. At the end of the day the money is flowing and everyone is comfortable with the way things have been set up."

Browne also confirmed the LRSDC are speaking with prospective partners to but the naming rights of Lansdowne Road.

"We have been in the market for naming rights for about 18 months. We're in discussions with a number of parties. We would hope to have these bottomed out, certainly within the first quarter of this year. I think we have to watch this space.

"The current economic climate isn't the greatest but, having said that, we're confident enough that we'll land something which will fulfil the requirements that we have."

In other news, this year's November international against Fiji is due to be held at the RDS Showgrounds.

"Yes, we are looking at that for next year. When Lansdowne Road is open we will go back to what we did in the past, which is hold all our home international matches in our international stadium. That's where the players want to play, that's what the supporters and our commercial partners generally want."