The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), supported by the FAI, has submitted 250m euro plans for a 50,000 all-seater stadium development at Lansdowne Road which could be completed as early as 2008.

Under the plans, the existing Lansdowne Road site would be entirely demolished and rebuilt to create a new national rugby and football stadium.

The IRFU and FAI, who would together cover approximately a third of the total development cost, met with government minister for arts, sports and tourism, John O’Donoghue, on 16 December to discuss the new stadium plans.

The joint delegation emphasised the urgency of the situation to the minister and pointed out a number of significant economic benefits a larger stadium could provide.

It is believed that a government decision on the joint proposal could possibly be made by the end of January 2004. Details: www.irishrugby.ie