High Performance Centre and new North Stand to be built in Phase 2
Two-year construction scheduled to begin in 2023
Phase 1 to be completed in November with installation of new LED floodlights
Connacht Rugby can confirm it is taking the next steps in our historic redevelopment of The Sportsground, with the commencement of a Public Procurement Process for Phase 2.
Phase 2 includes the construction of a High-Performance Centre and new North Stand with the procurement process taking approximately six months, prior to the commencement of a two-year construction programme in 2023.
Construction will begin with the build of the new High-Performance Centre consisting of a new indoor training pitch as well as state-of-the-art athlete and staff facilities.
Upon completion, work will then immediately begin on the new North Stand. This Stand will replace the existing Clan Terrace and will consist of a mixture of standing, seated and hospitality options with top-class facilities for players, supporters, partners and media. The North Stand will have a capacity of over 7,000 supporters and is currently scheduled to be completed in time for the 2025/26 season.
The redevelopment of The Sportsground began in May 2022 with Phase 1 consisting of a new synthetic playing surface and LED floodlighting system. The pitch was completed on-schedule in September with the new floodlights to be installed next month.
The redevelopment is supported by the Department of Tourism Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media’s Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The LSSIF is designed to support projects where the grant sought is greater than the maximum available under the Department’s Sports Capital and Equipment Programme. The first allocations under the LSSIF were announced in January 2020 and included funding towards The Sportsground redevelopment.
The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin T.D. stated:
“I want to congratulate everybody involved in bringing the project to this stage. Your vision and commitment will ensure that Connacht Rugby has a new home that everybody concerned will be justifiably proud of.”
The Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and Sport, Jack Chambers T.D. added:
“This is another important step in the delivery of what will be a superb new facility in Galway. My Department will continue to work closely with Connacht Rugby to ensure the passionate Connacht fans have this excellent new stadium open for business as quickly as possible”.
CEO of Connacht Rugby, Willie Ruane says:
“This week’s commencement of the Public Procurement Process for Phase 2 continues the positive momentum of The Sportsground redevelopment project. We have already seen the positive impact Phase 1 has had on our players’ and fans’ experience of The Sportsground and we are excited about what Phase 2 will further deliver in this regard over the coming years. On behalf of everyone associated with Connacht Rugby I would like to once again take this opportunity to thank the government for their very significant support of this project, without which none of this would be possible.”
Dragons RFC hooker Bradley Roberts has today (Tuesday) been called up to the Wales senior men’s squad for the Autumn Nations Series.
Roberts - who has scored two tries in six games for the Men of Gwent this season - replaces Dewi Lake (Ospreys) who suffered a shoulder injury on club duty at Rodney Parade on Sunday.
Dragons now have five players involved in the camp with Roberts joining Will Rowlands, Ben Carter, Rhodri Jones and the uncapped Rio Dyer in the squad to prepare for games with New Zealand, Argentina, Georgia and Australia.
Congratulations to Bradley from us all at Dragons RFC!
The RDS and Leinster Rugby have this morning confirmed a new 25-year agreement that will see the RDS Arena continue to be the home of Leinster Rugby.
The first Leinster Rugby game to be played at the iconic Ballsbridge stadium was in September 2005 when Leinster beat Cardiff Rugby 34-15.
It wasn’t until two years later that the first lease was signed, and the venue became Leinster’s permanent home venue. The team duly celebrated the partnership and their new home with a 23-8 win against Edinburgh Rugby in September 2007.
The new agreement, announced today, provides clarity and secures the RDS Arena as the home for current and future Leinster Rugby fans, as well as the team and the Leinster Rugby Branch.
Leinster Rugby CEO, Mick Dawson, said, “The decision to move to the RDS Arena in 2007, is one of the best decisions Leinster Rugby ever made.
“We had a brilliant home down in Donnybrook but for us to grow as a club, as an organisation, we needed a bigger ground and better facilities and that is what we got with the RDS Arena.
“It’s not just about the ground though, as the RDS, as an organisation, have been a brilliant partner over the last 15 years and I am delighted that we have agreed new terms that provides clarity and certainty for Leinster Rugby supporters and for the club for the years ahead.
“It’s a hugely exciting time on and off the pitch and I am confident that in early 2023, we will be able to provide a further update, together with the RDS, on the next stage of our plans for the RDS Arena.
“Today is about securing the future, first and foremost, and I am very grateful to Geraldine Ruane, and the RDS Executive, for their help in getting this finalised.”
Speaking about the new partnership RDS CEO, Geraldine Ruane said, “Our relationship with Leinster Rugby really is a true partnership which has grown from strength to strength over the last 15 years and it is great that today we are announcing a further deepening of our partnership for the next 25 years.
“Leinster Rugby fans have truly embraced the RDS as their home and we are always looking at ways to enhance the fans’ experience and the new fan zone, The Laighin Den, is another great example of our partnership.
“I would like to thank Mick Dawson, and all the team in Leinster Rugby who have helped to make this agreement happen and I would also like to wish Mick all the very best in his retirement as CEO of Leinster Rugby. He leaves with an outstanding legacy.”
Since 2007, the RDS Arena has hosted the majority of Leinster Rugby’s home games in domestic competitions, in addition to the Heineken Champions Cup, as well as hosting the Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Schools Senior Cup Final each year.
It has hosted a number of show-piece finals with Leinster Rugby winning the PRO14 Final in 2021 against Munster, the PRO12 Final against Glasgow in 2014 and the PRO12 and Challenge Cup Finals in 2013.
The RDS Arena has also hosted high-profile concerts and events, such as FAI Cup Finals, the Special Olympics and of course, the annual Dublin Horse Show.
The Munster squad returned to training at the HPC on Monday morning as preparations begin for Saturday evening’s Interpro derby against Ulster at Thomond Park (5.15pm).
Match tickets are available here. A family pack of four tickets costs just €40.
On the injury front, Stephen Archer will undergo surgery today having suffered an ankle injury against Bulls last week.
Following the weekend’s action, Jack O’Sullivan (knee), Liam Coombes (hamstring) and Tom Ahern (shoulder) will all go for MRI scans this week with O’Sullivan expected to be unavailable for the medium term.
Jean Kleyn will go for a scan on a rib injury today and his availability will be determined later in the week.
The eight Munster players selected for Ireland’s Bank of Ireland Nations Series fixtures travel to Dublin today.
In positive news, Simon Zebo (calf), Mike Haley (groin) and Roman Salanoa (head) will all return to full team training this week.
Academy lock Edwin Edogbo (calf) is progressing with his rehab and his availability will be determined later in the week.
Alex Kendellen will increase his exposure to full team training with a view to returning in the next few weeks.
Unavailable: RG Snyman (knee), Jack Daly (knee), Alex Kendellen (head), Paddy Kelly (head), Keith Earls (thigh), Andrew Conway (knee), Fineen Wycherley (shoulder), Antoine Frisch (calf).
Tickets
URC Round 7
Saturday, October 29
Munster v Ulster, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 8
Saturday, November 26
Munster v Connacht, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
Champions Cup Round 1
Sunday, December 11
Munster Rugby v Stade Toulousain, Thomond Park, 3.15pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 10
Monday, December 26
Munster v Leinster, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
Champions Cup Round 3
Saturday, January 14, 2025
Munster Rugby v Northampton Saints, Thomond Park, 3.15pm; Buy tickets here
The new agreement, announced today, provides clarity and secures the RDS Arena as the home for current and future Leinster Rugby fans, as well as the team and the Leinster Rugby Branch.
