Irish RFU still backs national stadium

Landowne Road is the oldest rugby venue in the world

BBC Sport Online's Jim Stokes in Dublin

The Irish RFU is still right behind the Irish Government despite the postponement of plans to build a new national stadium.

Despite some controversial findings contained in an independent consultants' report on the Campus Stadium Ireland project, the IRFU hopes the project will go ahead.

It was the Irish prime minsiter Bertie Ahern's dream to realise a new stadium for Ireland.

But the consultant's report priced it at over twice the original projected cost, at IR£770 million (888.8 million euros).

Extremely difficult

Commonly known as Bertie's Bowl, the new arena was to be built at a 220-acre site at Abbotstown in west Dublin.

Both international soccer and rugby are presently played at the dilapidated Lansdowne Road ground.

Lansdowne is the oldest international rugby ground in the world, but is on its last legs.

The IRFU has looked at various options including rebuilding the stadium.

However, plans to do this would be extremely difficult unless major difficulties regarding planning permission were overcome.

The main thrust of report was that the original plans for an 80,000 seater stadium were too adventurous.

Everyone knows that Lansdowne Road has a limited lifespan and we really need to do something about it

IRFU chief executive Philip Browne

The consultants' verdict was a setback for Ahern and his Government.

But IRFU chief executive Philip Browne was upbeat that a new stadium will come about.

''The positive thing is that the Government are willing to ahead with plans," said Browne.

''They said that it was feasible and desirable.

''While the size needed to be looked at, and new feasibility studies will need to undertaken, it will happen.

''It may not happen during the life term of this Government, but certainly there is a commitment to look at a national stadium in a serious way, and go ahead with it.

Other options

''That is very positive from an Irish rugby point of view.

''Our position right from the outset was to support plans for a national stadium.

''I hope after the next election that the whole process does get up and running again.

''It is not only important from a rugby perspective, but also for the Football Association of Ireland.

''Both rugby and soccer internationals require a top level venue.

''Everyone knows that Lansdowne Road has a limited lifespan and we really need to do something about it.

Tallagh site

''So I am looking forward to sitting down with the authorities to discuss what the timeframe is,'' said Browne, who is mindful that the IRFU have other options in hand.

The IRFU purchased a 97-acre site at Tallagh in the west of the city eight years ago, and that is one avenue the Union could go down.

''We have looked at various options. People are inclined to forget that we purchased a plot of land back in 1994 to build a new stadium.

''Of course there is Lansdowne Road itself, so we will have to look at these options if all else fails.

''But I am confident from what we have heard in the last 24 hours that the Government is very much on track to build a national stadium, albeit in a smaller scale.

''That would be no problem to us. A stadium to cater for 65,000 spectators is perfectly all right for rugby.''