Organisers of the 2007 World Cup have been left scrambling to find a new stadium for one of the series of pool matches after the IRFU revealed yesterday that Lansdowne Road will be unavailable.
The French Rugby Federation had been planning to use Lansdowne Road as a base for one the groups, but with yesterday's announcement that the stadium will be unavailable due to redevelopment, they French are now a venue short.
IRFU chief executive Philip Browne said: "As we plan to commence the rebuilding of Lansdowne Road in 2006 - and that programme will continue into 2008 - we would not be in a position to stage the World Cup games in Ireland."
" Whilst this is disappointing for Irish rugby, it is incumbent upon the IRFU at this stage to inform Rugby World Cup Ltd and the French Federation of our position as the commercial and logistical plans for RWC 2007 are being addressed at the present time."
