European Rugby Cup officials on Monday rejected appeals to switch this year's final from Dublin to France because two French sides have qualified for the showcase event. "Absolutely not," was the response from European Rugby Cup Ltd today when they were asked if a switch to a French venue was being considered.
"Last year we had an English team and an Irish team at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and we will be going ahead in Dublin," said a spokesman. It means a second successive trip to Dublin for Perpignan fans following Sunday's victory over Leinster. "Perpignan have already said they are absolutely delighted to be returning to Lansdowne Road for the final," the spokesman added.
A final at a neutral venue in France would be a guaranteed sell-out but the ERC spokesman insisted: "We are aiming for a full house." ERC president Jean-Pierre Lux had said earlier he would listen to an appeal but as good as ruled out a move from Dublin on May 24. Toulouse president Rene Bouscatel said: "I've been told we will play in Dublin. Very well, we'll go to Dublin."
Toulouse and Perpignan, who have been allocated 15,000 tickets between the two of them, say they could fill the Marseille Velodrome to its 60,000 capacity - 15,000 more than Lansdowne Road - if the final was switched to the south of France.
Toulouse beat Munster and Perpigan beat Leinster over the weekend to deny the Irish a place in the final.
