A striking feature of the 50,000-plus Irish supporters who attended last Sunday’s pool win over France was their increased age profile compared to the similarly vast numbers which had attended the pool wins over Romania and Italy in London over the previous two weekends.
The Green Army which attended those games at Wembley and the Olympic Stadium were noticeably younger, and almost certainly encompassed more ex-pats. London is estimated to have absorbed a quarter of the near 250,000 who have emigrated Ireland since April 2009.
The average hotel prices have soared to €1,664 and more in Cardiff ahead of Ireland's Rugby World Cup quarter-final meeting with Argentina this Sunday. With New Zealand and France meeting at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, supporters of all four nations are descending on the Welsh capital, which is ill-equipped to cope with such an invasion. There are few rooms left to be had, and those that have are charging exorbitant prices.
Prices have soared by up to 960 per cent in Cardiff for this weekend, according to the trivago Hotel Price Index prepared each month by hotel search sitetrivago.ie. A hotel stay on Saturday October 17th, the night before Ireland’s clash with Argentina, will cost an average of €1,664.
The average price of a hotel room in the Welsh capital on Sunday, the day of Ireland’s last-eight showdown, is €702, which is 347 per cent higher than the monthly average in Cardiff of €157. This is based on searches made between 1 January 2015 and 12 October 2015.
David Lintott, UK & Ireland Public Relations offier with trivago, says: "The hotel price increases in Cardiff for this weekend's Rugby World Cup quarter-finals are unprecedented, and the most extreme we have ever reported for a UK event.
“Earlier this month, trivago reported that a night in London during the Rugby World Cup would cost an average of €326. At €1664, the average price for a hotel room in Cardiff ahead of Ireland’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final is 410 per cent higher than the London average - despite London being the UK’s most expensive city for a hotel stay.”
There are still flights from Dublin to Cardiff on Saturday, returning on Monday, with Aer Lingus’ cheapest at €141.99 going out, and €255.99 returning, but the problem remains hotel availability and match tickets. Supporters are staying in Swansea, Newport, Bristol and further afield.
Of the 600 fans which Trevor Brennan Tours are bringing over, 450 are day return packages, which were sold out last Tuesday at a cost of €595 plus €65 tax. This includes a match ticket. Killester Travel have similar business and pricing, with the same packages costing €635 plus €65 tax.
For next Sunday’s second semi-final, Trevor Brennan Tours are offering two-night packages to London including Category C tickets at €995 per person, with Killester Travel offering the same package at €1075 per person, with additional costs for upgrading to category B or A tickets.
