Croke Park to stage URC final if Leinster progress
CROKE PARK HAS been confirmed as the venue if Leinster are hosting the URC Grand Final on Saturday, 14 June.
Leo Cullen's side face Glasgow Warriors in the semi-finals this Saturday, 7 June, at Aviva Stadium [KO 2.45pm, live on RTÉ 2 and Premier Sports 1].
Victory there would see them progress to the showpiece for the first time since 2021, and again enjoy home advantage due to rankings. Croke Park has been confirmed to The 42 as the venue of choice.
Advertisement
Leinster have used Lansdowne Road and Croke Park for their home games over the last two seasons as the RDS undergoes redevelopment works.
They last played at GAA HQ in April's Champions Cup last-16 win against Harlequins, while they also faced Munster there in the URC last October.
Croke Park's capacity is over 82,000, while the Aviva holds almost 52,000. Just 12,879 fans attended Saturday's 33-21 quarter-final win over Scarlets.
If defending champions Glasgow progress ahead of Leinster, the URC final will take place in South Africa. The Bulls host the Sharks in Pretoria in this weekend's other semi-final.
Josh van der Flier and Jordan Larmour (file photo). Juan Gasparini / INPHO Juan Gasparini / INPHO / INPHO
Meanwhile, Leinster have issued a mixed injury update. Jordan Larmour is available for selection on Saturday, having returned to full training after recovering from an injury.
Josh van der Flier will be further assessed this week for a hamstring injury before a final decision will be made on his availability. The Lions-bound flanker was replaced before the half-hour mark of Saturday's quarter-final.
Garry Ringrose (calf) and Tommy O'Brien (foot) will also undergo further assessment this week: neither featured last time out.
No further updates were available on Caelan Doris, Tadhg Furlong, Robbie Henshaw, Will Connors and Brian Deeny.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
an hour ago
Bernard Jackman: Connacht rugby 'invigorated' by Stuart Lancaster news
Bernard Jackman believes Stuart Lancaster is an "amazing" appointment for Connacht Rugby, after what had been a couple of "rudderless" seasons for the western province. The former Leinster senior coach was recently confirmed as Connacht's new boss on a two-year deal, replacing Pete Wilkins, who stepped down towards the end of this season. Lancaster, who also spent four years as head coach of England, most recently spent a season and a half as head coach of Racing 92, although he departed the club in February after struggling in Paris. It was at Leinster where Lancaster flourished, joining as senior coach in 2016 and helping the province to a Champions Cup title in 2018, as well as four Pro14 titles before leaving in 2023. And Jackman believes it's a major coup for the western province. "I spoke to some Connacht players and staff last night and they're invigorated by it," Jackman told the RTÉ Rugby podcast. "It's been a tough season at Connacht and obviously they ended up finishing the season and a large part of the season with an interim coach. "This has really given everybody a lot of hope and now they're going to go into a new stadium, they have a new training facility and clarity around who their head coach is. "You have a head coach who has a very, very strong reputation in Ireland. He understands the Irish system well, the Irish mentality. "He's looking to rebuild his career again, kind of like he did with Leinster. "He's very ambitious and hardworking so he'll want to show with Connacht - with less resources than he had at Racing 92 - what he can do. "Connacht have been quite rudderless for the past couple of seasons, and he will get more out of them for sure." Given the Englishman's reputation in the game, Jackman also believes the appointment could give Connacht a big boost when it comes to recruiting players next season. "I actually think that Stuart Lancaster, in a year's time, will be able to attract players from Leinster, players who have worked with him before," said the former Ireland hooker. "It now makes going to Connacht more attractive, because of his proven track record in developing players. "That's another advantage for Connacht fans, that their recruitment will be easier because they have a better training facility, a better stadium, plus someone like Stuart Lancaster. "Everyone who has worked with him says he made them a better player. That's impressive." While Lancaster had been in the market for a new job, and had recently gone on record detailing how he would like to coach in Ireland again some day, Connacht hadn't been seen as a potential landing spot for the 55-year-old, given their poor season in 2024/25. And while Jackman believes Lancaster could have waited for more lucrative and high-profile gigs, his decision to move to Galway speaks volumes for his confidence in the potential of rugby in the west of Ireland. He said: "Did he have other options? He's been on the record that he was very close to the Australian job. That's a fact. "Only last Friday I got a call from someone in Wales checking references and looking for more info on him. He was on the shortlist for the Welsh job, which hasn't been given out yet. "I think if he sat tight, he could have got a more high-profile job, but I think he sees a real opportunity here. He loved his time in Ireland and so did his partner. "Stuart Lancaster has probably had the biggest impact on the domestic game, in terms of coaching, being a mentor to schools' coaches in Leinster. "He's had more of an impact in his time here than a lot of homegrown or native Irish. "He's the kind of fella who does really buy into it, and really understand what's going on. "I think it won't be just on the field for Connacht. Other coaches in the domestic game there will benefit from his willingness to give up his time. "He's unbelievably generous with his time and I know a lot of people in Leinster really missed him when he left because there wasn't anyone to step into his void with the same level of dedication he had. "I have no doubt if he had decided to sit tight, a bigger job on paper would have come up. It's just he sees something here that he can improve."
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Awesome £650,000 horse with ‘a hell of an engine' instantly made Royal Ascot favourite after astonishing debut
THIS awesome £650,000 horse with 'a hell of an engine' was instantly made a Royal Ascot favourite after an astonishing debut. Word had been strong for Karl Burke's Wathnan-owned two-year-old filly Zelaina ahead of her bow over 5f at Nottingham. 1 Zelaina was instantly made a Royal Ascot favourite after absolutely blistering debut at Nottingham Credit: Getty But even jockey James Doyle was taken aback by the ease with which she obliterated rivals after bursting out the gates. Making all, she sauntered over the line ahead of 4-1 Secret Oath, the three-quarter length margin of victory flattering the runner-up. Punters branded the breeze-up buy an 'absolute weapon' and said she was 'the one we were waiting for' - as bookies immediately made her favourite for the Queen Mary. Burke and Doyle teamed up to win it with Leovanni last year. And Zelaina is now Ascot-bound for the Group 2 on Wednesday, the second day of the five-day festival. Clearly buzzing afterwards, Wathnan's retained rider Doyle said: "She'd been doing the right things at home. "She wasn't 100 per cent coming here, she's a had a couple of things that meant she needed an easy time. "But Karl said she's very fast and she's shown she has an engine. Most read in Horse Racing "She caught me by surprise out the gates - then up into that stride and away she went. "She's quite hot so we'll do a few things to iron that out ahead of Ascot. "But she's got a hell of a big engine and a plenty of pace. "I was the last person to pull up but she just stood so I let her relax then just trotted her back. "She took quite a blow at the furlong pole but I expect her to come along fitness-wise. "She didn't have the perfect prep coming into today… so expect her to improve a lot." Bookies introduced Zelaina as 4-1 joint-fav alongside Lady Iman. But they were immediately forced to cut her and now she is a best 7-2 fav with the likes of William Hill. FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Read more on the Irish Sun Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
Extra.ie
2 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Six months on, former Derry Captain Chrissy McKaigue is content with his decision to retire
Hanging up his boots last year former Derry captain Chrissy McKaigue is still getting used to the idea of watching from the side-line but says he is still happy that he decided to call it a day. Making his debut for his county team in 2008 against Monaghan, Chrissy has a list as long as his arm when it comes to achievements with Derry, including a national league medal and two Ulster championships medals and an All-Star in 2022. However, when it comes the star has no time for regrets and concentrates more on the achievements he accomplished along the way. Chrissy McKaigue in action for Derry. Pic: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo Sitting down with Extra as part of the launch of this year's Electric Ireland's Minor Championship Chrissy is still immersed in the sport. 'I'm so, heavily involved with GAA still in the day job. I work in a secondary school, coordinating Gaelic games. Not only just boys, Gaelic games, the girls, camogie and ladies football is a heavy part of my remit also. 'I'm back playing football for Slaughtneil, my club and doing bits and pieces of media too regarding GAA.' When it comes to throwing on the county jersey though he said 'I'm content to walk away from Inter-county and I'm actually enjoying the freedom of not having it and put my energy into other facets of it.' Chrissy McKaigue at the 2025 Electric Ireland GAA All-Ireland Minor Championship launch. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan 'And like, I didn't want to be that way, but it's just the way I was and It is, it's, it's, it wears heavy after a while and it certainly wears weighs heavy after 16 or 17 years, let me tell you.' The former defender who has come up against some of the best of the best over the years such as Dublin's Diarmuid Connolly and Kerry's David Clifford says it is relief to step away from the intensity of the game. 'I don't have be thinking about football or the pressures of inter-county football, because I don't take any pride in saying this, like I find it really difficult to switch off from the game. When the season started in inter-county until it finished, it probably captured too much of my thinking,' he said. Chrissy McKaigue tussling with Kerry's David Clifford. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile Admitting that doing this for several years can take its toll on your mind. Looking forward to this year's season, the Derry man has full confidence in his former team believing that Sam is up for grabs from several contenders. 'It's been so long since we've had so many teams jockeying for possession in the race for Sam,' and this year all bets are off to who will be bringing the trophy home.
