Dublin’s Aviva Stadium will host the 2013 Heineken Cup Final it was announced by tournament organisers ERC this morning.
The last time Europe’s showpiece event was held in the Irish capital was back in 2003 when Toulouse beat Perpignan 22 v 17 at Lansdowne Road. Since then the stadium has undergone re-development but has hosted knock-out games in the tournament including this season’s semi-final between eventual Champions Leinster and Toulouse.
“The Aviva Stadium is a world-class venue which has quickly established a close affinity with the Heineken Cup having staged three matches last season, including two magnificent knock-out games,” said ERC Chief Executive Derek McGrath.
“The Heineken Cup final has become one of the most prestigious sporting fixtures in the European calendar and it now requires long-range planning in order to deliver the spectacle we enjoyed in Cardiff just over a fortnight ago.
“Last year we confirmed the final venues for the following two seasons, and today’s announcement allows ERC to prepare the way for Dublin in 2013 while we continue to work with Twickenham Stadium on next season’s final in May 2012.
“Ireland has provided four Heineken Cup champions in the past six seasons and Irish rugby is steeped in the history of the tournament since it began 16 years ago. The decision of the ERC Board to bring the Heineken Cup final back to Dublin for the first time since 2003 is further recognition of the passion that Irish fans have for the tournament and we are confident that our showpiece game in 2013 will be another landmark occasion in the history of Irish rugby and sport.”
