Munster semi-final fixed for Lille

ERC Ltd have fixed the European Cup semi-final between Stade Francais and Munster on Saturday, April 21st for Lille, about 150 kilometres north of Paris. The game will be played in the Stadium Lille Metropole, which has a capacity of about 21,000, at 3.0p.m. local time (2.0 Irish).

Given a choice between the Parc des Princes, Lens (which would have distinctly unpleasant memories for Munster's Irish World Cup contingent) or Lille, ERC opted for the latter.

"The decision to play the semi-final in Lille was made by European Rugby Cup Ltd after consultation with our partners, the Unions, clubs, broadcasters and sponsors, and made in the best interests of the tournament," said Derek McGrath, chief executive of ERC in a statement yesterday.

The venue is not in Lille per se, nor is it the ground used by the Lille football club. It is actually in a neighbouring area called Villeneuve d'Ascq and is used sporadically by a second-division football team.

Surrounded by a running track it is actually more of an athletics stadium and is thus relatively lacking in atmosphere, as this journalist can testify having witnessed the All Blacks-Canada 1991 World Cup quarter-final at the venue. The ERC decision is regarded as a curious choice in France and is not popular with Stade Francais.

However, Declan Kidney took a more sanguine approach. "I had no real strong opinions on the matter at the time, nor do I have any now. It was always a matter for us to stay clear of."

It is believed that ERC officials thought Paris would give Stade Francais an unfair advantage. Although a Parisian venue might have seemed more accessible, in point of fact Lille can be reached more easily from Brussels (about 25 minutes) by TGV (high speed train) than Paris (about an hour).

Meanwhile, a final announcement on the venue for the all-English semi-final between Leicester and Gloucester will not be made until today.