A work colleague mentioned to me earlier that the IRFU and main sponsors O2 have teamed up and organised an open Irish squad training session in Landsdowne Road next month and theyâre charging admission into it. Is this true?
Heard something about this on Newstalk yesterday.
I think entry is free but you have to get tickets on ticketmaster?
Could be wrong.
Ah fair play to the IRFU so - they never, ever rip off their customers. And this on the back of the bargain 340 Europeans for 4 friendlies offer too. Wonderful.
By Hugh Farrelly
Friday October 29 2010
IRISH rugby clubs facing a massive financial hit due to the IRFUâs ticketing policy for the November Internationals are joining together to take their fight to the Union.
Ireland play four matches on successive weekends at Lansdowne Road; the IRFU have been offering tickets in two-game groups, with South Africa/Samoa selling for âŹ150 and New Zealand/Argentina âŹ190.
Those prices are proving offputting for supporters and the clubs are struggling to sell their allocations on to members, facing thousands of euro losses as a result.
They do not want to ask for a reduced allocation as it would affect their Six Nations allocation.
There is widespread anger among clubs and preliminary briefings have been held by a group of Munster clubs with a view to organising unified opposition to the IRFUâs policy.
âWe are struggling badly, all the clubs are,â said Shannon PRO Andrew McNamara. âThe New Zealand/Argentina packages are selling okay but we are having huge problems with South Africa/Samoa.
The last time Argentina came here, we took a hit of around âŹ16,000 and we are looking at another big loss. This has to be resolved.
âThe Union does not want to put clubs under financial pressure,â said an IRFU spokesman. âBut clubs cannot cherry-pick what internationals they want tickets for â there has to be a balance.â
The situation is reflected by the IRFU offering free bus transport from around the country to the Samoa game while hospitality company 4U are offering coach transport and match ticket deals from Limerick for the South Africa game for âŹ90 per person, when the face value of the ticket is âŹ100.
- Hugh Farrelly
Itâs finished.
Burst the oddly shaped footballs, pack away the soggy biscuits and let the band strike up the last post and chorus.
IRFU admits ticketing âstrategy errorâ
Rugby: The IRFU tonight backtracked on its ticket demands for the autumn internationals and admitted making an âerror in its ticketing strategyâ after clubs around the country raised concerns over selling their allocations.
At a meeting of the IRFU Management Committee it was decided that clubs will only be asked for immediate payment for tickets they have sold for the four match series. The association also gave a commitment to work with the branches and the clubs to assess the situation regarding unsold tickets with a view to reaching an equitable solution to this difficult problem.
âThere has been slower than expected demand for this autumnâs Guinness Series,â explained Philip Browne, IRFU chief executive. âThere are a number of elements impacting on this situation since the sales structure was drawn up in March 2010, including a further significant deterioration in the economic climate.â
âWhile the situation varies from club to club we are aware that a number of clubs are still in possession of tickets for matches. In the interests of Irish Rugby, the IRFU, the branches and the clubs, must continue to work hard to sell these tickets right up to kick-off for each match.
âThe IRFU do not want to see clubs suffer financial hardship as a result of being unable to sell ticket packages for this Guinness Series and consequently will only seek immediate payment for tickets sold. On completion of the series, the IRFU will work with the branches and clubs to assess the effect of the reduced demand for tickets.â
The IRFU originally packaged all four of Irelandâs autumn internationals together but later divided it into two-match packages. A combined New Zealand, Argentina ticket costs âŹ190 and the South Africa, Samoa package costing âŹ150 with individual tickets available for the Argentina and Samoa games.
âIn addition the IRFU will undertake a comprehensive review of its entire ticket sales strategy, which includes price tiering, bundling and distribution channels,â added Browne. âAs part of this review, which will commence immediately on completion of the Guinness Series, it will consult widely with its stakeholders.â
It was further agreed that ticket allocations to branches and clubs for next yearâs Six Nations matches will not be affected by sales of tickets for the Guinness Series. Ireland play England and France on home soil.
IRFU admits ticketing âstrategy errorâ
Paddy Wallace is tackled by Brian OâDriscoll during Ireland squad training at Donnybrook (Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho)Rugby: The IRFU tonight backtracked on its ticket demands for the autumn internationals and admitted making an âerror in its ticketing strategyâ after clubs around the country raised concerns over selling their allocations.
At a meeting of the IRFU Management Committee it was decided that clubs will only be asked for immediate payment for tickets they have sold for the four match series. The association also gave a commitment to work with the branches and the clubs to assess the situation regarding unsold tickets with a view to reaching an equitable solution to this difficult problem.
âThere has been slower than expected demand for this autumnâs Guinness Series,â explained Philip Browne, IRFU chief executive. âThere are a number of elements impacting on this situation since the sales structure was drawn up in March 2010, including a further significant deterioration in the economic climate.â
âWhile the situation varies from club to club we are aware that a number of clubs are still in possession of tickets for matches. In the interests of Irish Rugby, the IRFU, the branches and the clubs, must continue to work hard to sell these tickets right up to kick-off for each match.
âThe IRFU do not want to see clubs suffer financial hardship as a result of being unable to sell ticket packages for this Guinness Series and consequently will only seek immediate payment for tickets sold. On completion of the series, the IRFU will work with the branches and clubs to assess the effect of the reduced demand for tickets.â
The IRFU originally packaged all four of Irelandâs autumn internationals together but later divided it into two-match packages. A combined New Zealand, Argentina ticket costs âŹ190 and the South Africa, Samoa package costing âŹ150 with individual tickets available for the Argentina and Samoa games.
âIn addition the IRFU will undertake a comprehensive review of its entire ticket sales strategy, which includes price tiering, bundling and distribution channels,â added Browne. âAs part of this review, which will commence immediately on completion of the Guinness Series, it will consult widely with its stakeholders.â
It was further agreed that ticket allocations to branches and clubs for next yearâs Six Nations matches will not be affected by sales of tickets for the Guinness Series. Ireland play England and France on home soil.
:lol:
Do clubs still sell their tickets to English tour operators for the Six Nations? Can imagine the outrage if GAA or soccer clubs were openly engaging in such a practice
The clubs saw international tickets are their cash cow during the boom years and milked their supporters for all they were worth. As the cash kept rolling in from dinner+ticket packages, clubs kept scrambling to increase their ticket allocations. Now that things have gone belly up they are left to live with the consequences of their greed.
If this were the FAI weâd have Delaney telling us everything was fine and that this was all part of the plan. At least this mob of blazers have come out holding their hands up.
+1. Lock the gates. This farce is finished.
+1
The IRFU have said that they got it wrong, have listened to the clubs and have backtracked on their original stratagy. 
The FAI and the Irish Government could learn a lot here.
Me bollixâŚ
See how many plugs the blazer got in for Guinness in his statement. Fuck them and their revolting hobby.
Delaney apologist. He probably bought you a can of Carlsberg once.
Tremendous integrity shown by the IRFU here to admit their errors in public. As MBB said, Delaney would still be telling us that all the matches had sold out and there were no tickets left.
Take a bow Phillip Browne 
Only three days until the first captainâs run at the new Aviva stadium. What a moment in Irish sport that will be.
The statement is still fairly ambigious. He doesnât say that clubs can just return any unsold tickets, just that they wonât be seeking immediate payment for them.
Paranoid Runt returns to the board. Nice to see itâs not only Google that gets you thinking in that way. 
These grasping rugby football cunts will probably have the playing surface ruined for the FAI Cup Final on Sunday week. Christ, I hate rugby football.
yeah the demand in england for GGA tickets is huge :rolleyes: