DUBLIN HAS BEEN chosen as the host city for this season’s Guinness Pro12 final, which will take place at the Aviva Stadium on 27 May 2017.
As reported by The42 last week, the Lansdowne Road venue will play host to the league decider for the first time.
This is the third season in which league organisers have confirmed a fixed final destination, with Murrayfield in Edinburgh and Kingspan Stadium in Belfast having had the honour in the last two years.
In addition to this morning’s announcement, it was also confirmed that Guinness has extended its deal as the competition’s title sponsor for a further four years until 2020.
Speaking at the 2016/17 season at the Aviva Stadium this morning, Martin Anayi, chief executive of Pro12 Rugby said:
“After the successes of the finals hosted in Belfast and Edinburgh, Aviva Stadium will provide another grand stage that rewards clubs, players and fans from across the Championship.
“Since it’s redevelopment in 2010, Aviva Stadium has fast become an iconic rugby arena and after a thrilling final at BT Murrayfield between Connacht Rugby and Leinster Rugby that set a new attendance record, it seems only right that we should try to raise the bar yet again here in Dublin.”
Organisers have already revealed ticket details for this seasons final with supporters able to avail of early bird rates up until 2 January 2017.
Ticket prices range from €5 for U18s to €90 for premium level seats and are already available here.
Connacht won last season’s decider against Leinster in front of a crowd of 34,550 at Murrayfield, a record Pro12 final attendance.
The new season gets underway on Friday 2 September with Leinster and Ulster in action on the first night of fixtures. Pat Lam’s Connacht, meanwhile, open their title defence against last year’s semi-finalists Glasgow Warriors on Saturday 3 September.
The 2016/17 campaign will see six ‘Big Weekends’ spread across the year that will comprise of intra-union derby matches while Friday evening games will be played at the new regular ‘appointment-to-view’ time of 7.35pm
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