Estimates suggest that international rugby matches played in Dublin could contribute up to €110m a year to the Exchequer.
Early estimates, based on previous findings by The Michael Smurfit School of Business in UCD, indicate that this weekend's Ireland-England rugby match in Lansdowne Road has the capacity to generate revenues in the region of €60m.
With the upcoming Ireland-France match on March 12 and last year's three Autumn internationals against South Africa, the US and Argentina, rugby internationals in Dublin for the 2004-05 season should yield in the region of €110m to the Exchequer.
The figure does not take account of the forthcoming Heineken Cup quarter final on April 2 between Leinster and top English Premiership side Leicester, for which Lansdowne Road's 49,500 capacity has already been pre-sold.
Based on findings around an Ireland-England game two years ago, the average weekend spend for Irish match-goers was €299 compared to a figure of €882 for English rugby fans coming here.
Accommodation accounted for over €8m of the overall economic impact figure. Food accounted for €7.6m, while drink accounted for a massive €19.75m. Shopping accounted for another €3.2m, while €2.5m was spent on match tickets.
The research also found that the vast majority of English supporters travelled to Dublin via Irish airlines. The majority of English visitors stayed between two to three nights in Dublin area, of which 56% stayed in hotels, with 23% in B&Bs.
