The IRFU’s Chief Execuitive Philip Browne said:

“The Irish Rugby Football Union is delighted by the positive decision from An Bord Pleanála regarding the re-development of the new stadium at Lansdowne Road.

“The Union has always outlined the importance of the project for the future well being of the whole of Irish rugby. From the outset, the re-development programme has been the cornerstone of our Strategic Plan for the development of the game at all levels.

“Lansdowne Road has been world renowned as the home of Irish Rugby for 130 years and this proudly will continue to be the case.

“The IRFU expresses its thanks to the Government for its generous funding of €191 million and particularly to John O’Donoghue TD., the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, who has been especially to the fore in his proactive support of the project,” he added.

“We believe that the go-ahead for the re-development of a state of the art stadium is a fitting testimony to the game of rugby in Ireland and that it will also be a tremendous boost for Dublin city in terms of potential revenues emanating from the staging of major rugby and soccer events. In this regard we look forward to working with our FAI partners.”

See: Landsdown Road Stadium Development Company

The Rugby Football Union and the England squad are aware of the sporting and political significance of Croke Park in Irish history,” the RFU said in a statement on Friday.

“Former Irish rugby international (35 caps) and now RFU national academy director Conor O’Shea, whose father Jerome won three All-Ireland final medals with Kerry (1953, 1955, 1959), will address the England squad on Monday.

“The RFU feel it is appropriate that every English player who has the privilege and honour of playing in front of the Hogan Stand next Saturday hears from Conor about the stadium’s place in Irish culture and history.

“We would like to add our thanks to those of the Irish Rugby Football Union in appreciation to the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) for allowing rugby union to be played at one of the best sporting venues in Europe.”

The Hogan stand is named after Michael Hogan, a Tipperary player who was one of 14 people killed in the stadium on “Bloody Sunday” in 1920 when British-led forces fired on the crowd attending a Gaelic football match.

Membership:
95 Country Unions
20 Associate Member
6 Regional Assocations

Day to day running is handled by a staff of just over 40, but the overall management decisions are handled by the execuitve council (known as the IRB board). The council is dominated by the main rugby powers, the following countries all have two votes each at the council table:

New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and France

Canada, Italy, Japan, Argentina, Fira (Europe), Car (Africa), Foru (Oceania) and Arfu (Asia) have one each, while other individual nations do not get a separate vote.

The IRB control a number of existing rugby tournaments, including the Womens Rugby World Cup, Rugby World Cup Sevens, IRB Sevens, Under 21 World Cup, Under 19 World Championship, Super Powers Cup, and its premier event, the Rugby World Cup.