Galwey Urges Fans to Attend Final

Munster’s Mick Galwey has roared a warning to the fans of Heineken Cup finalists Perpignan and Toulouse not to miss out on ‘one of the special days of your rugby lives’.

Munster’s Mick Galwey has roared a warning to the fans of Heineken Cup finalists Perpignan and Toulouse not to miss out on ‘one of the special days of your rugby lives’.

Galwey led Munster into two Heineken Cup finals and he and his team mates were responsible for taking professional rugby to a new level in Ireland. And even though the men in red fell to defeat at both Twickenham in 2000 and the Millennium Stadium last year, the now semi-retired Galwey is planning on being at Lansdowne Road on 24 May to witness the eighth Heineken Cup final in person.

‘I wouldn’t miss it – it’s going to be a very special occasion with two very good teams fighting it out for the ultimate prize in European club rugby,’ said Galwey. ‘I’ve heard that some of the French fans are upset that the game hasn’t been switched to France because there are two French teams involved. But how could that be.

‘Every player in the tournament knew the final was going to be at Lansdowne Road before we even kicked a ball in the competition – and so did the fans! The final venue has been Dublin since September, so they could hardly change it now.

‘In any case, I think it makes it even more special when you win a major prize away from home. Winning the Heineken Cup at either Twickenham or the Millennium Stadium would have meant more to me than doing so at Lansdowne Road because it would have been an even bigger achievement.

‘I can’t understand the mentality of those fans from Perpignan and Toulouse who are saying they are going to boycott the final because it hasn’t been moved and it is going to cost them too much money.

‘Just look at what the Munster fans have had to put up with since we started doing well in the competition. Our semi-final in Toulouse last month was the fourth year in a row we had been drawn to play in France at that stage.

‘On top of that, we have played two finals in the UK, yet still we have an army of loyal fans following us. There were 20,000 in Cardiff for last year’s final and we took 10,000 with us to Toulouse for last month’s semi. ‘I think it would be a tragedy for both the players and the fans of the two French teams if they allow petty politics to get in the way of joining in one of rugby’s greatest occasions.

‘There are some wonderful players in the two teams and, from a pure rugby sense, it is going to be a brilliant final. More importantly, the final is a chance for the fans to express their true support and depth of feeling for their club and its players.’

Toulouse last reached the final in the inaugural year of the tournament when they became the first winners of the Heineken Cup. Their jersey still sports a star above the club badge to signify that great achievement.

Perpignan have reached the final for the first time and haven’t won a trophy since they took the French Cup in 1994 – their first title in 39 years. Yet to date, despite having some of the most vocal and passionate fans in France, they have only sold only 2,000 tickets.

Toulouse put their tickets on sale on Tuesday and are confident of shifting their initial allocation of 5,000. But even so, the two teams are still likely to be shy of the Munster hordes who descended on Toulouse to back their team even though the event is far more accessible than Six Nations or Rugby World Cup matches.

‘We’ve worked very hard to building the support we get in Munster and the fans have been magnificent in their response. I’m convinced they are part of the reason the team has been so successful in recent years,’ added Galwey.

‘Money and distance are no obstacles to the real fan.The greater the sacrifice. the greater the sense of achievement and fun.

‘That’s the message I would like to get across to the fans of both Perpignan and Toulouse ahead of the Heineken Cup final. Dig deep, make the effort and you will be rewarded with one of the best days of your lives.’