Home rule for play-offs

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The race is now well and truly on for the Magners League title after the Celtic Rugby Board announced the details regarding the format of the play-off matches.

The date for the final, which will be known as the Magners League Grand Final, has been set for Saturday, May 29, 2010, with a provisional kick-off of 6.30pm.

The venue for the Grand Final will be determined by the final finishing positions of the four semi-finalists in their regular league campaign. The top two teams will enjoying home advantage in the semi-finals.

Clubs will have until March 8 to nominate their choice of final venue should they be in the race for a play-off place.

"With no pre-determined venue for the staging of the Grand Final, the board has agreed the following principles to determine where the biggest game in the history of the Magners League shall be played," explained Celtic Rugby director David Jordan.

Nominate

"The team that reaches the Grand Final having achieved the highest finishing position in the regular Magners League shall have the right to nominate a venue of more than 18,000 capacity within its own Union's jurisdiction to host the game."

Munster's home ground Thomond Park could host the Grand Final as it can hold 26,000. The 18,000 rule also means the RDS would qualify.

Of the other contenders, the Ospreys' Liberty Stadium (20,000), Edinburgh's home ground Murrayfield (80,000) would both be suitable but current leaders Glasgow's regular home ground Firhill, with a capacity of 10,000, is not big enough.

"All nominated venues will have to meet with the approval of the Celtic Rugby board, and its commercial requirements, and, in the unlikely event of neither finalist being able to nominate a suitable venue, the board will take the game to a ground of its choice," added Jordan.