THE AVIVA STADIUM is set to host the final of this season’s Guinness Pro12 on Saturday 27 May 2017.
This is the third season in which league organisers will confirm a fixed final destination, with Murrayfield in Edinburgh and Kingspan Stadium in Belfast having had the honour in the last two years.
That the 2016/17 Pro12 season will be officially launched at the Aviva Stadium next Tuesday was a hint that an announcement may be forthcoming, and sources close to the Irish provinces have confirmed to The42 that the Aviva will host this year’s final.
The last time the Pro12 final was held in Dublin was 2014, when Leinster enjoyed home advantage at the RDS as they beat Glasgow Warriors. From 2015 onwards, the Pro12 did away with the previous format of the highest-placed regular-season finisher being given home advantage for the decider.
2017 is set to be the first time the Aviva Stadium hosts a Pro12 final. However, the Dublin venue has been the venue for five regular-season league clashes between Leinster and Munster in recent years.
Confirmation of the Aviva Stadium as the 2017 final venue would provide additional motivation for the Irish provinces this season, particularly Leo Cullen’s Leinster.
Connacht won last season’s decider against the eastern province in front of a crowd of 34,550 at Murrayfield, a record Pro12 final attendance.
The 2016/17 season kicks-off on Friday 2 September, when Leinster face Treviso at the RDS, Ulster welcome the Dragons to Belfast, and Zebre travel to the Ospreys.
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