Donal Lenihan believes Munster should look to bring a major game to Páirc Uí Chaoimh next season, and says the Cork venue could be the province's answer to the Aviva Stadium.
Next month's Ed Sheeran concerts at Thomond Park have prevented Munster from being able to host their Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final with Toulouse in Limerick, and with the English artist also performing at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on his Irish tour, it ruled out the possibility of moving the quarter-final to Cork.
The concerts would also likely prevent the Páirc from hosting a potential semi-final against Leinster, in which Munster would have 'home' advantage due to their better pool stage record.
However, Lenihan believes playing a major Heineken Champions Cup game, or the traditional Christmas derby with Leinster, in Cork next season is something the province have to consider, with the Cork county board seemingly open to the idea of staging a rugby game.
"They've done feasibility studies on playing big games at Páirc Uí Chaoimh," Lenihan said on this week's RTÉ Rugby podcast.
"I know from my own contacts that Cork County Board - who are also desperate to pay the debt on Páirc Uí Chaoimh - are crying out for Munster to play there.
"What will really annoy me is that if Munster beat Toulouse, and Leinster make the semi-final, Munster will be the higher ranked team and entitled to host the semi-final. Where will it be? The Aviva Stadium. If that was in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 45,000 people, it would be riveting.
"I also know the branch looked at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney and Semple Stadium in Thurles, but the corporate facilities aren't quite there for what you'd be looking for a European semi-final."
Munster have come in for some criticism for their decision to stage a concert in May, knowing it could have clashed with a major game.
However, Lenihan says it's understandable that they took the risk, given the financial impact Covid-19 has had on the professional game.
"To be fair to Munster I think the Ed Sheeran thing came up a long time ago, and this was an opportunity to make serious money.
"It's been a horrible time for professional sport, rugby hasn't been spared by the impact of the pandemic.
"Munster, more than the other provinces, are under serious financial difficulty due to the redevelopment of Thomond Park. It's a noose around their neck, and it's something they have had to address. It's impacting their ability to sign players, so it's something that has to be addressed.
"You can argue that they should have known quarter-final time in Europe is around May, but the opportunity to get these concerts came up well over 12 months ago, so from that point of view they had to go for it.
"Had Toulouse not got that try at the death, Munster would be travelling to Ravenhill and we wouldn't be talking about it.
"It's unfortunate, but I think what has magnified it more is the fact that for the first time in two years, Thomond Park was back to what we knew and love, and what makes days there so special. You got a taste of that for the first time in three years, and if ever you needed it it'll be Toulouse coming go town,
"It's unfortunate, but I can understand the thinking of Munster at the time," he added.
