Sports bodies reach agreement on use of Croke Park

Rugby and soccer internationals will take place at Croke Park in 2007 after the GAA, IRFU and FAI agreed a figure acceptable to all three sporting bodies for renting the stadium.

After last year's historic decision by the GAA to open it's doors while Lansdowne Road is being redeveloped, rugby and soccer chief executives Philip Browne and John Delaney today reached agreement with director general of the GAA, Liam Mulvihill, on the finances involved.

The terms and conditions of the agreement have not been made public with a GAA statement released this afternoon stressing they will remain "confidential to the respective parties".

The decision on temporarily suspending Rule 42 was made on the presumption that planning permission will be granted to allow the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road to begin in just over a year.

With the IRFU and FAI due to confirm their home fixtures in the next few weeks, a deal has been thrashed out and will include at least five internationals in 2007 with the visit of England in the Six Nations sure to generate the most interest at this early stage.

"Two rugby internationals in February and at least three soccer internationals in March, October and November are scheduled to take place in 2007," confirmed the GAA in the statement. "The situation post 2007 has not been discussed or considered and any future application will be reviewed in the context of the Lansdowne Road development project in 2007."

GAA president Seán Kelly said that the development was practical and necessary "to ensure that Irish sport and Irish sports followers did not have to travel abroad."

Delaney, described the agreement as "an historic day for soccer and for sport in Ireland" while Browne commented that "the entire rugby community looks forward to what will be magnificent sporting occasions at Croke Park".