Terrace closure: The IRFU are facing a loss of €450,000 after announcing the North Terrace is to remain closed for Ireland's remaining autumn internationals against Australia and Romania.
However, the fire damage that initially caused the terrace to be closed for last week's match against New Zealand is no longer the problem.
In carrying out the reinforcement work, substantial flaws in the concreting came to light forcing the IRFU consulting engineers, Arup, to declare the Havelock Square area of Lansdowne Road unsafe.
After Saturday week, the North Terrace is not required until Ireland's Six Nations opener against Italy on February 6th, by which time ongoing "remedial work" is expected to be complete.
Like last weekend, ticket holders have been requested not to come anywhere near the ground on match day.
"Engineers have gone in and their advice is further remedial work is needed to be carried out to reinforce certain areas of the terrace. The fire brought this to light," said an IRFU spokesman. "While the fire was put out last Friday night, the civil defence remained on duty throughout the match."
The IRFU also confirmed the initial theory reported in The Irish Times on Monday that the cause of the blaze arose after "combustible materials" (waste paper) caught fire while work was taking place to reinforce unsafe areas last Friday evening.
An IRFU statement added: "Once more, the IRFU apologies to North Terrace ticket holders for the disappointment caused but the safety of our patrons must take priority in these circumstances.
"The IRFU also states that, because the Ireland-Australia games is a sell-out, it is not possible to accommodate North Terrace ticket holders elsewhere in the ground.
"The north goal-line area, immediately in front of the North Terrace, is not affected and ticket holders for those seats will again gain access by the stated routes indicated on tickets."
The New Zealand and Romania tickets sold as a package deal worth €35, forcing the IRFU to refund €262,500, with another €187,500 now to be refunded for this Saturday as the 7,500 tickets sold at €25 each. The stadium's capacity is reduced to 41,500.
Those who have bought tickets through their clubs can receive a refund from the same source. The 2,000 travelling fans can get their refund off the Australian rugby union.
Those who purchased online will receive a refund directly back to their credit cards.
Meanwhile, Keith Wood has been inducted, along with 11 other former players, into the international rugby hall of fame. The 2005 inductees include the former Irish captain, Martin Johnson (England), John Eales (Australia), Francois Pienaar (South Africa), Ian McGeechan (Scotland), Phil Bennett (Wales), Grant Fox (New Zealand), Naas Botha (South Africa), Fred Allen (New Zealand) and Andre Boniface (France).
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first meeting between Wales and New Zealand, the two captains from that game, Dave Gallaher and Gwyn Nicholls, are special inductees.
Irish rugby already has five players in the international hall of fame: Mike Gibson, Willie John McBride and Tony O'Reilly were inducted in 1997, while Jack Kyle, in 1999, and Syd Millar in 2003.
• The Irish Rugby Union Players Association have branched into new territory with the launch of an Irish rugby players' cookbook. The 100 page, full-colour cookbook Eating to Win includes a Q&A and a brief biography of the featured players as well a comprehensive nutritional guide.
It will retail at €14.95, with the profits going to IRUPA's Injured Players Fund.
Each player chose a pre-match and a post-match favourite recipe, and each of the 38 easy to follow recipes includes a nutrient analysis per serving.
