Monday 26 January 2015 15:26, UK
Belfast’s Kingspan Stadium will host this season’s PRO12 final.
It is the first time that the PRO12 has staged a 'destination final’ providing a festival of rugby throughout the whole city, which will be supported by key sponsors. The match itself will be televised live on Sky Sports on Saturday, May 30 with a kick-off time of 6.30pm.
Announcing Belfast as the chosen host city John Feehan, CEO of PRO12 Rugby said: “Belfast is an inspiring host city and the new Kingspan Stadium is a state-of-the-art venue for the PRO12 Final. Given the development of the competition the time is right for a showcase event and we invited offers from all 12 clubs and their regions to host the Final.
“The tender from ‘Team Belfast' was outstanding and was unanimously agreed as the chosen venue. Belfast excelled itself as the host city for our PRO12 season launch in 2013 and their plans for the City in the lead up to and around the Final are very exciting.
“Our competition is truly unique. 12 Clubs, 4 Unions, 1 Trophy - we are delighted to be able to work with our partners to promote the variety of fantastic international destinations that the PRO12 has to offer. We look forward to working with all our partners in staging a festival of rugby where fans from all four of our countries will enjoy a memorable Final and a great weekend in Belfast.”
Shane Logan, CEO of Ulster Rugby, added: “We are extremely pleased that our bid to host the PRO12 Final was successful. Belfast is a vibrant sporting city and through NI Executive funding,
“Kingspan Stadium is now a state-of-the-art rugby stadium, fit to stage a game of this magnitude. While we hope that our province is in the final, we are fully committed to working with the PRO12 to ensure that regardless of who contests it, that this event is a huge success.”
