Underage drinking forces ticket changes at Leinster rugby matches

Access for schoolchildren to Friday's Heineken Rugby Cup fixture between Leinster and French club Montferrand at Donnybrook is to be restricted because of serious underage drinking problems during recent matches at the ground.

The floodlit evening games have emerged as a social occasion for many south Dublin pupils. Large groups of youngsters have been drinking before games and have even brought alcohol into matches with them.

At a game last month between Leinster and the Scottish Borders, a 13-year-old girl and a 14- year-old boy were brought to hospital because of drinking alcohol.

Hundreds of teenagers have been congregating in a car park in the ground and drinking while games were being played.

The Leinster branch of the IRFU has now written to a number of schools in Dublin informing them that tickets for schoolchildren will not be on sale at the ground on the night.

Instead, the number of tickets will be limited to 500, and they will be sold in the run-up to the match. Up until now, an unlimited number of schoolchildren could buy tickets at a reduced price of €5. Adult tickets cost €15.

However, after consultation with gardaí, the IRFU's Leinster branch has decided to sell only 500 schoolchildren tickets at a shop in Donnybrook in advance of the game. The restrictions relate to unaccompanied children only. There will be no restrictions on children accompanied by adults.

The problem has become so serious that the Leinster branch has been forced to treble the number of stewards on duty at big games.

Mr Tom McCormack, a spokesman for the Leinster branch, said the branch was anxious that youngsters attending games knew that drinking sessions would not be tolerated.The problem was not new this season but had escalated in recent months.

"We are not a babysitting service," he said.

He added that some children had been concealing alcohol in soft drinks bottles, making it impossible to detect.

The restrictions are aimed at making it harder for larger groups of children to congregate at the games. It is hoped the fixtures will become less popular with young revellers.

The Leinster branch has denied the move is aimed at increasing gate receipts. The more schoolchildren tickets which are sold, the lower the take at the turnstiles.