Leinster to play all home games at Aviva and Croke Park

Leinster Rugby has confirmed its men’s senior team will play all of their home games at the Aviva Stadium and Croke Park next season.

Due to planned regenerative works of the RDS, their usual base, the province has had to explore alternative options for matches on Irish soil.

On Thursday, Leinster revealed they will play “the majority” of their games in the URC and the Champions Cup at Lansdowne Road, with Croke Park also hosting “a number of games across the season”.

The venues are not unfamiliar to Leinster supporters. Leo Cullen’s team beat La Rochelle in the Champions Cup quarter-final at the Aviva last weekend and will take on Northampton Saints in the semis at Croker on 5 May.

Meanwhile fixtures in the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship will continue to be played at Energia Park in Donnybrook, Dublin.

“This a hugely exciting update for everyone associated with Leinster Rugby and we look forward to supporting the RDS in its ambition to regenerate,” said Leinster Rugby CEO Shane Nolan.

“We are very fortunate to be able to relocate to Aviva Stadium, a stadium that we are very familiar with as an organisation and as a supporter base, and where we have enjoyed many brilliant days together.

“Last Saturday’s win (against La Rochelle) was another one to add to a long list of great days.

“I’d like to put on record my appreciation and indeed the Leinster Rugby Branch’s appreciation to the Boards of the RDS, the IRFU, the FAI and the Aviva Stadium for all their help in facilitating this move and indeed to the GAA for their help in securing Croke Park for a number of games next season.

“It will be a season like no other, of that there will be no doubt, and while we acknowledge that there will be some inconvenience in any stadium move, we are also very excited to bring a full season of Leinster Rugby matches to venues of the quality of the Aviva Stadium and Croke Park, two of the finest stadia in Europe.”

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