Rugby Game To Be Played At The Bridge

[middleoftheshed 388]

Ireland will be the first international rugby team to appear at Stamford Bridge for more than 100 years, with Chelsea the venue for their end-of-season match against the Barbarians.

The ground-breaking game, scheduled for Sunday, May 25, will be the first at the stadium since the pioneering All Blacks beat Middlesex there in 1905 during the early stages of their first British Isles tour.

The fixture, arranged as a warm-up before Ireland leave London for their three June Tests against New Zealand and Australia, is due to be announced later this month.

The novelty factor, allied to Ireland's large London-based support, is expected to be a 41,000 sell-out. The deal links two of the unlikeliest bed-fellows in British sport — the Baa-Baas, synonymous for so long with amateurism and the Corinthian spirit, and Chelsea, the cash kings of English soccer.

Croke Park, Ireland's temporary home pending the reconstruction of Lansdowne Road, is to stage all three home Six Nations' matches against Italy, Scotland and Wales as well as the November Tests against New Zealand and Argentina.

The other autumn Test, against Canada, is likely to be switched to Limerick and the new Thomond Park currently in the process of being enlarged to more than double capacity to 26,000.

Despite fears that the Baa-Baas would become one of the biggest casualties of professionalism, rugby's most famous touring club will follow up their spectacular success in beating South Africa at Twickenham last month with a series of matches against international opposition — Belgium at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels on May 27, an England XV at Twickenham the following weekend and Australia at Wembley in December.

Rugby's attempts to simplify the sport and win new friends will gather pace with South Africa introducing a raft of experimental law variations to all levels of the sport.

International Board chairman Bernard Lapasset said: 'This is a very exciting development for the game as it gives a further opportunity to conduct comprehensive on-field analysis.

'The Board has no desire to change the very fabric of the game but recognises the need to continually look at the laws to ensure that rugby is as easy as possible to play, referee and understand.'

The experimental laws includes the award of penalties only for offside, foul play and deliberate or persistent infringement. Corner flags are no longer considered to be touch-in-goal and will be removed. Defending teams passing the ball back into their own 22 and kicking direct to touch will concede the line-out not where the ball went out but from in line with where it was kicked.

Mauls can be pulled down, a penalty offence at present, and the only condition about the number of players in the line-out is that there must be a minimum of two.

Daily Mail

This is weird as I'm sure I heard that one of the conditions in the contract for building the new West Stand was that only Chelsea could play here.

Anybody else know of that? :unsure:

[BlueLion. 21,491]

I've never heard that condition before.

[We Hate Scouse 10,326]

I've heard it, maybe there being more lenient. They will be getting more money through this.

[We Hate Scouse 10,326]

Found a intresting link on tribal football. http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=74989

Russian Premier League club FK Moscow are planning to play their opening home game of the 2008 season against champions Zenit St Petersburg in London.

"It's a great idea - first ever Russian league match to be played on foreign soil," FK Moscow president Yuri Belous was quoted as saying by the Russian media.

"Zenit have already agreed, now we only need the approval of both, the Russian Premier League and the Russian FA."

Belous said the match which is scheduled for March 22 or 23 would likely to be played at Chelsea's ground, Stamford Bridge.

[the wes 7,212]

Chelsea boss Roman Abramovich has been told to forget about hosting a Russian league match in London.

Marketing company IMG and FC Moscow had reportedly suggested playing their first 'home' match of the 2008 campaign against defending champions Zenit St Petersburg at Stamford Bridge in March.

But the proposal angered the Russian FA, who refused permission for the match to be played outside the country.

"The Russian Football Union (RFU) had the last word and they said no," FK Moscow president Yuri Belous told reporters after a meeting with RFU chief Vitaly Mutko.

Mutko said: "I'm totally against this idea. It goes against all the principles of conducting our national championship. The Russian championship must be held in Russia, not England."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/arti...amp;ito=newsnow

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Why all of a sudden in The Bridge set to host so many different games? I just don't get the point of it all, the rugby lot can jog on to Twickenham.

[pippin 0]

hmm and to be honest if the match is going to be a sell out and they cant use twickers then why not the emirates? they get more then. just dont le then go to wembley the pitch is crap enough there already

[TrueChelseaBlue 105]

making up relay the pitch cos they'll fuck it up...erm...ok? :S

[Elliott 7]

The game is in late May. By the time we come to use the pitch again, in August, it will be fine. This has no negative for us, so why not?

[TrueChelseaBlue 105]

Why the Bridge though.. Old Traffs or Emirates.. they have bigger stadiums..

[Elliott 7]

Because we're charging the best rate? Because of: "The novelty factor, allied to Ireland's large London-based support"?

[terry26 6]

i dont really like the idea of rugby being played on a football pitch

i mean look at the condition of the JJB stadium pitch for yesterdays game

i can understand 2 teams sharing a ground if the teams play the same sport ie 2 football teams like AC and Inter

but a rugby team and football team should not share because it damages the pitch and isn't good for either team