MRSC Travel Guide | Champions Cup Semi-Final

The Munster Rugby Supporters Club have kindly provided a guide for the thousands of Munster supporters travelling to Coventry for Saturday’s Champions Cup semi-final against Saracens at the Ricoh Arena (3pm).

Purchase tickets for the game here. Get involved on social media using #RedArmyRising and #SARvMUN.

Munster Sports Travel are offering a range of options to fly to the game. See full details here.

Event Information

There will be a Fan Village open from 12.30pm on Saturday in Car Park D at Ricoh Arena with a DJ, food and drinks. The Fan Village will re-open after the final whistle.

Munster fans are urged to get into the ground early ahead of the 3pm kick-off.

A Swipe Station facility will be available to supporters at the game. The ‘Click & Collect’ mobile payment service will allow fans to order food and drink from anywhere in the stadium. The service will help increase efficiency and reduce queue times at the bars on matchdays at Ricoh Arena. See full details here.

See more information on the Ricoh Arena here.

Landmarks Across The Province

Landmarks throughout the province are turning red in support of Munster ahead of the big game!

MRSC Guide For Munster Supporters In Coventry

Bags will be packed; routes will be planned, and red will be worn. The Red Army are ready for another march on Europe and this time it is the Ricoh in Coventry and the mighty Saracens that stand in our way.

We know what our support can bring to the team as they embrace this opportunity to reach a first Champions Cup final since 2008. Another storied chapter in this great European adventure was written in Edinburgh and the 23 who take to the field next Saturday know we will replicate that support.

They stand on the cusp of greatness and no matter the result, we stand with them.

As ever, the cardinal rules of the Red Army apply; Be Early, be Red and BE LOUD!

SUAF

General information

Many supporters are taking the option of flying into Birmingham International Airport.

If you are taking the car rental option, there are many car rental options at the airport but it is best to book ahead. Car journey time from Birmingham to Coventry is about 20 minutes.

There will be no direct rail services from London to Coventry on Easter Saturday for the game and no direct rail services from Birmingham New Street to Coventry because of planned engineering works. Bus services will replace rail services from Birmingham International to Coventry and Rugby.

If supporters plan to use rail for part of their journey the are urged to leave plenty of time to get to the stadium, supporters can plan their train journeys here.

Network Rail is carrying out major improvement work across the West Coast main line over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. This work affects all West Coast journeys: including journeys to the Midlands and London’s Euston station will be closed on these days.

Passengers are being advised to plan ahead and avoid rail travel on the West Coast main line on these dates as services will be busier, take longer and some buses will replace trains.

More details of the disruption can be found here.

Passengers travelling from London will be routed via Chiltern Railways services from London Marylebone to Leamington Spa, but the hourly rail service that operates between Leamington Spa and Coventry has limited capacity. This will also be supplemented by a bus service. The Coventry to Nuneaton West Midland Rail service which calls at Coventry Arena has limited capacity and supporters should try and use alternative transport to get to the stadium rather then use this service.

At the time of writing, accommodation is already almost full in Coventry but options are plentiful in nearby Birmingham.

Getting a Taxi to the Ricoh

Allen’s Taxis, a Coventry based taxi company with over 200 vehicles, is an option for travelling to the ground but be aware traffic around the Arena is regularly quite heavy. Visit their website here.

Beside the ground there is a 24-hour casino, Tesco Extra, M&S and Next (as part of a retail park). A taxi should be circa £10 each way from the city centre (for up to four people). Away from the ground, taxis can normally be hailed in the normal way, if you need to call a taxi Central Taxis of Coventry at +44 24 7677 7777

Central Taxis Coventyr are also a good option, visit their website here.

Might be worth a visit…

Arena Centre – take in some shopping before kick-off, located beside the stadium

Coventry Cathedral in the city centre. More details here.

Coventry Transport Museum in the city centre. More details here.

Herbert Art Gallery & Museum – in the city centre. More details here.

MRSC Meeting Point

The official MRSC meeting point is:

The Gatehouse Tavern

46 Hill Street, Coventry (CV14AN)

Martin and his team are fully prepared to host the Red Army offering music and food across the weekend with an opening on Saturday morning at 9am. (with a breakfast bap and pint for £4).