'Beach' games need to be reduced

[paul]

by Gavin Cummiskey
from ireland.com / irish times

Future of Donnybrook: Connacht coach Michael Bradley described Leinster's pitch as "Donnybrook beach" last Sunday, but the grassless surface is facing an increase in games after chief executive Mick Dawson confirmed the RDS Showgrounds would be unavailable next season.

The RDS have applied for lottery funding for a new surface, floodlights and permanent seating to be installed ahead of the annual Horse Show in August 2007.

"We are hoping the RDS won't start the redevelopment until next January so we can play some Heineken Cup group matches there but it does have to be finished by August 2007," said Dawson.

In order to avoid a repeat of the current situation - where the Donnybrook surface has become a joke among visiting professional teams, including Irish provinces - the number of schools cup matches at the venue will need to be significantly reduced.

"The two clubs (Old Wesley and Bective Rangers RFC) play on it every Saturday and Sunday so our only option appears to be a reduction in schools games and to get the mini-rugby off the pitch," said Dawson.

"We will sit down and talk to the two clubs and the schools. Schools matches are already played at other grounds around Leinster anyway."

Farming out schools games to reduced-capacity venues around the city like Lakelands, Templeville Road or Stradbrook has obvious financial implications for the Leinster Branch. There is also the health and safety issue of club grounds trying to cope with coach-loads of teenagers.

Since January, Donnybrook has held almost 40 schools cup matches. Add at least two club games every weekend, along with home Celtic League fixtures, and you get an idea of the punishment inflicted on the surface.

The current embarrassment has occurred despite the Branch investing €500,000 on the two Donnybrook pitches last summer.

"It is disappointing the way it lost its grass," Dawson continued.

"Those who laid it last summer have assured us that its holding power will be greatly improved after it has four months of growth from May to August. Last year it only had two months of growth in the lead-in. They have also have assured us no more money needs to be spent."

If the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road begins next year, Leinster could be forced to hold all their matches, including the lucrative European Cup pool stages, at the 6,000-capacity Donnybrook, almost cutting in half the financial windfall generated by this season's move to the RDS Showgrounds.

Leinster's long-term financial stability suffered last year when An Bord Pleanála rejected plans for the modernisation of Donnybrook, which was to include new clubhouses, a vastly improved stand and the contentious issue of apartment blocks at either end.

Dawson admitted redevelopment plans have been shelved for at least 12 months.

"There is a lot of behind-the-scenes activities going on but with Lansdowne Road redevelopment planned for early 2007 and the RDS out of action we are mindful that some stadium needs to stay open.

"We still have to come to a land-swap deal (the waste ground behind Old Wesley RFC) with Dublin City Council. Also, part of the redevelopment agreement was to build a walkway (along the river Dodder to Ballsbridge). I don't expect any further development until March 2007."

[Duff Paddy]

to get the mini-rugby off the pitch," said Dawson.

So they're blaming Naas and Wesley under 11's for the state of the pitch?

[Darce]

to get the mini-rugby off the pitch," said Dawson.

So they're blaming Naas and Wesley under 11's for the state of the pitch?

id say he means bective and wesley's weekend mini rugby

[glic]

to get the mini-rugby off the pitch," said Dawson.

So they're blaming Naas and Wesley under 11's for the state of the pitch?

That jumped out at me as well -of course it's mini rugby thats destroyed the pitch

The last thing we need is for the RDS to be unavailable next season especially with Lansdowne out of action.
On the plus side if all HC matches are played at donnybrook will we finally hear leinster fans on the Live line to Joe Duffyyyyyy giving out that they're finding it impossible to get tickets. The harder it is to get tickets the more people will want them leading to huge queues when tickets go on sale. This will lead to loads of press coverage for Leinster with much munster style bandwagon jumping. every cloud has a silver lining

[epaddy]

to get the mini-rugby off the pitch," said Dawson.

So they're blaming Naas and Wesley under 11's for the state of the pitch?

That jumped out at me as well -of course it's mini rugby thats destroyed the pitch

The last thing we need is for the RDS to be unavailable next season especially with Lansdowne out of action.
On the plus side if all HC matches are played at donnybrook will we finally hear leinster fans on the Live line to Joe Duffyyyyyy giving out that they're finding it impossible to get tickets. The harder it is to get tickets the more people will want them leading to huge queues when tickets go on sale. This will lead to loads of press coverage for Leinster with much munster style bandwagon jumping. every cloud has a silver lining

We will be playing in the Municipal "stadium" in Tallaght ebfore long, thats so not Leinster

[glic]

We will be playing in the Municipal "stadium" in Tallaght ebfore long, thats so not Leinster

Maybe we could bribe a politician to have the tallaght stadium reclassified as D4 it's only a case of dropping the 2 should be easily done.

[Imperial Mongoonybus]

We will be playing in the Municipal "stadium" in Tallaght ebfore long, thats so not Leinster

Maybe we could bribe a politician to have the tallaght stadium reclassified as D4 it's only a case of dropping the 2 should be easily done.

It's in hand apparently.

[Duff Paddy]

I'm not going to Tallaght. End of.

[Colm]

I'm not going to Tallaght. End of.

Why not?

[Duff Paddy]

I'm not going to Tallaght. End of.

Why not?

Miles away. Rough as fock. No public transport. No good pubs.

[Colm]

Miles away. Rough as fock. No public transport. No good pubs.

- Miles away from who?
- The Luas stops across the road from the Stadium. Many bus routes pass by the stadium.
- You're generalising the "rough as fock" statement.
- Granted, pubs are part of the atmosphere but not the be all and end all.

[Duff Paddy]

Miles away. Rough as fock. No public transport. No good pubs.

- Miles away from who?

From whom? From the majority of Leinster supporters! That's who!

I didn't realise that the Luas stops near the stadium. Now all they have to do is connect the Luas lines and we'll be away in a hack.

[StuF]

The better facility
The larger capacity - pitch looks longer too

[thecoolfreak]

They wouldn't be a bad alternative to the Brook, but i can't see to many Leinster supporters travelling out there

[Colm]

From whom? From the majority of Leinster supporters! That's who!

Eh .. Not gettin your point. Are you saying most of Leinster's fans live 15 mins or less from Donnybrook?

I didn't realise that the Luas stops near the stadium. Now all they have to do is connect the Luas lines and we'll be away in a hack.

Sure while they're at it, build an underground line from Donnybrook to Tallagh too.

[Duff Paddy]

Are you saying most of Leinster's fans live 15 mins or less from Donnybrook?

.

Yes.

[Colm]

What about ...

- Dalymount Park (12,200 Capacity - 4 350 Seats) http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pi ... ount.shtml
- Tolka Park (10,000 Capacity - ALL SEATER) http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pi ... olka.shtml


They're only planning on the Tallagh Stadium to have a 6,000 Capacity (3,000 seats) so that's probably not an option.

[Colm]

Yes

I think you should check that out ... I disagree.

[T.C.B.]

The better facility
The larger capacity - pitch looks longer too

Dalymount would be good, not least because it's only down the road from me but also it is on the 10 bus route that goes through DB so easy to head back there after a match if people want to collect their cars or go for pints in Madigans or Kielys.

[Flash Gordon]

The fact that mini-rugby played on the surface is one more symbol of how ridiculous the situation is.......

So no RDS, no LR and redevelopment plans shelved for Donnybrook.....brilliant.