2011 SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP:SO, AFTER four years across the River Liffey in Croke Park, Irish rugby returns to its ancestral home, now rebranded the Aviva Stadium, on Lansdowne Road, for the RBS Six Nations, with France and England making the journey to Dublin in 2011.
Television schedules dictate the times and dates, and Irish supporters get the short straw as two games fall on Sunday.
The campaign begins in Rome on Saturday, February 5th, at 2.30pm Irish time.
The unique opening to the competition is England’s visit to Cardiff the previous night to mark the first Friday night lights Six Nations encounter at the Millennium Stadium.
A week later, it is, as it was with the historic opening international at Croke Park in 2007, France, on Sunday the 13th at 3pm, who will seek to spoil the inaugural party around Dublin 4.
The Sunday afternoon tie has proved unpopular – hardly assisted by the last-gasp Vincent Clerc try that handed Ireland a 20-17 defeat in 2007 – particularly for fans and local businesses when compared to the momentous Saturday evening atmosphere for the first visit of England to Croke Park, or even the more traditional Saturday afternoon tie.
Another Sunday fixture is next up in Murrayfield against Scotland on February 27th, followed by the ideal 5pm Saturday slot against Wales in Cardiff.
Ireland conclude their business on March 19th with a 5pm kick-off at home to England, before attention switches to the Paris match between France and Wales at 7.45pm.
The first rugby game at the new ground takes place on Saturday, August 7th. This will be a throwback to the amateur era when a composite Leinster/Ulster side take on a Munster/Connacht equivalent.
However, it is extremely unlikely any front-line internationals will be available for the official breaking-in of the stadium, given it is the start of a World Cup season and they will be deeply immersed in pre-season routines after a gruelling summer tour of New Zealand and Australia.
Also, it is a non-competitive meeting and really just a symbolic gesture put in place to ensure rugby became the first sport played at the Aviva Stadium: Diego Maradona’s Argentina (presuming Diego is still the manager after this summer’s soccer World Cup), play the Republic of Ireland the following Wednesday, August 11th.
The FAI have also secured the final of the Uefa Europa Cup in 2011.
International rugby first comes to the stadium in November when South Africa, Samoa, New Zealand and Argentina all visit.
The meeting with the world champion Springboks will be the real launch pad for rugby at the 50,000 all-seater Aviva Stadium.
2011 schedule
Fri, Feb 4 Wales v England 7.45pm
Sat, Feb 5 Italy v Ireland 2.30pm
Sat, Feb 5 France v Scotland 5pm
Sat, Feb 12 England v Italy 2.30pm
Sat, Feb 12 Scotland v Wales 5pm
Sun, Feb 13 Ireland v France 3pm
Sat, Feb 26 Italy v Wales 2.30pm
Sat, Feb 26 England v France 5pm
Sun, Feb 27 Scotland v Ireland 3pm
Sat, Mar 12 Italy v France 2.30pm
Sat, Mar 12 Wales v Ireland 5pm
Sun, Mar 13 England v Scotland 3pm
Sat, Mar 19 Scotland v Italy 2.30pm
Sat, Mar 19 Ireland v England 5pm
Sat, Mar 19 France v Wales 7.45pm
