Ravenhill Stadium
| Ravenhill Stadium | |
|---|---|
| Ravenhill | |
 the Main Stand at Ravenhill |
|
| Location | 85 Ravenhill Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Coordinates | 54°34′35″N 5°54′16″W / 54.57639°N 5.90444°WCoordinates: 54°34′35″N 5°54′16″W / 54.57639°N 5.90444°W |
| Opened | 1923 |
| Renovated | 2009 |
| Owner | Irish Rugby Football Union |
| Surface | Grass |
| Capacity | 12,300 (or 19,000 with extra seating) |
| Tenants | |
| Ulster Rugby | |
Ravenhill Stadium is located in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is used by Ulster Rugby. It has a normal capacity of 12,300 and is owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union.
Contents |
[edit] History
The grounds were opened in the 1923/24 season. The ground features an ornate arch at the entrance that was erected as a war memorial for those players killed in World War I and World War II .
Ravenhill has hosted 18 international matches, including a pool game in both the 1991 and 1999 Rugby World Cups, which are at the bottom of the page. It was also the scene of Ulster's magnificent performance in the 1999 European Cup semi final when Ulster defeated Stade Francais. The most memorable moment in that game was early in the 2nd half when the captain and one of Ireland's best out halfs of the modern era David Humphrys ran from the Ulster 10 meter line to score a try and ruin the spirit of the opposition. The most recent Ireland international to be played at the stadium was on 24 August 2007 against Italy as a World Cup warm-up match. Before that Scotland was the last visitor in the 1954 Five Nations Championship. Lansdowne Road, now known as the Aviva Stadium is the main venue for Ireland's international games.
Since 1924 the stadium has been the annual venue for the Ulster Schools Cup final which is traditionally contested on St Patrick's Day. The stadium is traditionally the venue for the Ulster Towns Cup played on Easter Monday.
Ravenhill also hosted the 2007 Under 19 Rugby World Championship Final in which New Zealand defeated South Africa and numerous other pool and semi-final matches.
[edit] Redevelopment
The new stand at Ravenhill was officially opened on 9 October 2009 by First Minister Peter Robinson,[1] before a match between Ulster and Bath Rugby.[2] The stand has however been in use since the first home match of the 2009-2010 season, against Edinburgh Rugby.[3]
The stand is on the Mount Merrion side of the ground, and consists of a terraced area, over 500 premium seats, and 20 corporate boxes.[1] Premium seats were delivered by Polish brand Forum Seating belonging to Nowy Styl Group. The terrace area is now covered by a roof for the first time in the ground's history. The cost of the project is approximately £4.5 million, and has been funded by a mixture of public-sector funding, sales of premium tickets and boxes, and loans from the IRFU.[4]
In 2012, Environment Minister, Alex Attwood, Sports Minister, Caral Ni Chuilin, Ulster Rugby Chairman, Shane Logan and Chairman of Sport NI, Dominic Walsh all confirmed that three new stands will be built at Ravenhill, with work expected to commence at late 2012. The existing stands at the Memorial and Aquinas ends of the ground will be redesigned and the main stand will be demolished and rebuilt. The major refurbishment is expected to be completed in 2015.
[edit] World Cup Matches hosted
| 14 October 1991 |
Japan  |
52 – 8 |  Zimbabwe |
Ravenhill, Belfast Referee: Rene Hourquet
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tries: Yoshida (2), Mashuho (2), Kutsuki (2), Horikoshi, Luaiufi, Matsuo Hosokawa (4), Hosokawa Pen: Hosokawa |
(Report) | Tries: Tsimba, Nguruve |
| 3 October 1999 |
Australia  |
57 – 9 |  Romania |
Ravenhill, Belfast Referee: Paul Honiss  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tries: Toutai Kefu (3), Joe Roff (2), Rod Kafer, Matthew Burke, Jason Little, Tim Horan Con: Matthew Burke (5), John Eales |
Pen: Petre Mitu (3) |
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Rugby fans line out for grandstand view - Local & National, News". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/rugby-fans-line-out-for-grandstand-view-14527024.html. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
- ^ "BBC Sport - Rugby Union - Ulster 26-12 Bath". BBC News. 2009-10-09. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8300182.stm. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
- ^ "Sat, Sep 19, 2009 - Ulster play the rugby but lose their way". The Irish Times. 2009-09-09. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/0919/1224254866036.html. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
- ^ [1][dead link]
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ravenhill Stadium |
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