The North Terrace in Lansdowne Road Stadium was closed last night following a fire and 7,500 ticket holders will not be able to attend today's match between Ireland and the New Zealand All Blacks.
The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) said it was closing the terrace for safety reasons to allow time for a full safety inspection after a fire on the terrace.
A spokesman for the IRFU said that the decision to close the North Terrace was taken following consultation between the IRFU, the gardaí and other relevant authorities. North Terrace ticket holders are advised it will not be possible to gain access to any other area of the stadium and have been asked to stay away.
It is not possible within the timeframe to complete that inspection and provide adequate notice to patrons, the spokesman said. He added that the IRFU regrets the closure and the disappointment and inconvenience caused and will issue notices as soon as possible in relation to refunds. The North goalline area is not affected and ticket holders for those seats will gain access.
The capacity of the stadium has been reduced to 42,000.
The fire started at around 4.30pm beneath the North Terrace and two units of the fire brigade attended. The incident was complicated by chemicals being used in the stadium at the time and officers using breathing apparatus remained at the scene late last night.
Engineers were also in attendance along with the chief fire officer and local gardaí.
Earlier yesterday, hundreds of schoolchildren waited patiently in the drizzle outside Elvery Sports on Dawson Street in Dublin to catch a glimpse of the All Blacks.
Many had taken it upon themselves to miss school for the day, such was the importance of the occasion.
"If anyone asks, we're all at the dentist," one teenager said with a wink.
Parents with prams and scores of New Zealanders living in Ireland made up the 1,100-strong contingent of sports fans eager to get an autograph, or better yet, a word, with one of the All Blacks. About 900 of those who came to meet the rugby stars yesterday got the chance to do so.
Inside Elvery's, five All Blacks thundered into the relatively small store, which became positively tiny as they made their presence felt. All Black players Byron Kelleher, Dan Carter, Jerry Collins, Joe Rokocoko and captain Tana Umaga posed for photographers ahead of meeting the legions of fans, some of whom began banging on the windows in excitement as they caught a glimpse of their heroes.