Defeat for Leinster and Ulster in the Heineken Cup quarter finals will likely cost as much as €2 million to Irish rugby through loss of the payments and revenues that would have accrued to the sport should three teams have made it to the semi-finals in place of just Munster.
The drama and economic benefit of a Leinster vs Munster semi final at the Aviva Stadium will now be replaced by a scramble for flights and match tickets in the south of France as Munster travel to take on tournament favourites and reigning champions Toulon.
Munster management will have been pleased with a 26,000 crowd at Thomond Park on Saturday and an exciting end of the season in prospect. A potential home semi final in the RaboDirect Pro 12 could bring in another €500,000 while the ten year sponsorship of Musgrave Park by Independent Newspaper Group has also been a boost in 2014.
Fans anxious to follow the team to Marseilles face an anxious search for value flights. Travel via various airlines and with different stopovers are currently coming in at around €500 from Shannon or Cork and €400 from Dublin travelling out on Saturday and returning on the Monday after the match which will have a 4-40 kick off on Sunday, April 27th.
