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Its The Ricoh In Coventry For Munster and Wasps

16th September 2007 By Munster Rugby

Its The Ricoh In Coventry For Munster and Wasps

Munster will open their 2007/2008 Heineken Cup campaign against title holders London Wasps at The Ricoh Arena, home to Coventry City F.C., in the Foleshill district of of Coventry.

The venue has a capacity of 32,500 and has been home to Coventry City since the start of the 2005/2006 soccer season. Tickets for the game will shortly go on priority sale to Wasps and Munster Season Ticket Holders for a period of ten days, after which tickets will go on general sale through Ticketmaster. Tickets start at £25 for adults, £18 for concessions and £13 for under 16s, with £35 (£27 conc, £22 jnr) and £45 tickets also available.

Reacting to the news of the confirmation of the venue Munster coach Declan Kidney said, “I’m delighted first of all that a venue has been confirmed because it means we can go ahead and finalise our arrangements to travel. The venue itself seems like a good rugby decision and full credit to Wasps for that.”

Wasps had originally looked to stage the game at Twickenham, but road works in the vicinity of the stadium made that a non-runner and then they investigated the possibility of staging the game at Wembley but that was also shot down, a decision that did not best please Wasps CEO Tony Copsey, “We’re absolutely disappointed. The groundsman was very up for it, the commercial team were very up for it but I don’t think Brian Barwick was very up for it

“So one guy (FA Chief Executive Brian Barwick) has stood in the way of us having a fantastic occasion at Wembley due to his nervousness about the pitch.”

Barwick it seems was concerned about what state the pitch would be in after the Munster/Wasps game given that England are due to play there soon after.

However, that reasoning was rubbished by Copsey, “‘After we play Munster there’s another two weeks before England play another game at Wembley.” he said, “To us the decision is just short-sightedness.

‘We build this wonderful cathedral to sport and they’re not going to use it. Taxpayers put a lot of money into that venue and it wasn’t just football taxpayers, it was rugby taxpayers as well. ‘I think it’s very disappointing they haven’t got that vision to host such events like that.’

Now however that’s all put behind and London Wasps return to the  Coventry stadium that hosted Wasps’ 30-13 semi-final victory over Northampton Saints last season before the Londoners won the trophy by defeating Leicester Tigers 25-9 in the final at Twickenham.

 

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