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Saracens confirm Heineken Cup 'home' game in Brussels

Last updated on .From the section Rugby Unioncomments17

King Baudouin Stadium

Saracens are to play one of their home Heineken Cup group matches in the Belgian capital, Brussels, next season.

The game against Racing Metro of Paris will take place at the King Baudouin Stadium on 20 October.

"We are confident of staging a special and memorable occasion," a club statement read.

Last season, Saracens tried to arrange a Heineken Cup game in Cape Town but had to move it to London after failing to agree which venue to use.

They will play at a number of London venues this season, including Wembley and Twickenham, prior to moving to their new Allianz Park home at Barnet next February - but had promised to take two matches "further afield".

It will be the first time a top-level rugby match has been played in Brussels.

The King Baudouin Stadium was scheduled to stage a Heineken Cup game between Ulster and Stade Francais in 2009 and more than 30,000 tickets were sold, only for bad weather to force a postponement on the morning of the match.

Saracens are hopeful that with support of the Belgium Rugby Union, the Mayor of Brussels and the Brussels regional government, they will also attract a big crowd but are offering seats free of charge to fans who have bought season tickets for 2012-13.

"We are excited by this opportunity to take a top European clash to a fast-emerging rugby audience in Belgium," the statement added.

The club have yet to confirm the venues for their other pool matches against Munster and Edinburgh, although the former on 16 December will be at a "central London venue".

The King Baudouin, which has been Belgium's national stadium since 1930, has a capacity of 50,000 and normally stages international football and athletics meetings.

It was formerly known as the Heysel Stadium and the darkest chapter in its history occurred in 1985 when 39 supporters died and more than 600 were injured after a wall collapsed during the 1985 European Cup final between Liverpool and Juventus.

Following the tragedy, the stadium underwent major renovation work during the 1990s.

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17 comments

  • Comment posted by U15358910, at 10:39 27 Jul 2012

    As someone about to take up a contract role with NATO in Brussels, I for one will be at the game. Big rugby fan and take any chance to watch live rugby.

  • Comment posted by val1149, at 20:11 26 Jul 2012

    As a resident of Brussels who adores rugby this is great news!

  • Comment posted by U14979597, at 20:56 27 Jul 2012

    Now lets look at this situation with a broarder view than that of our own inability to attend home matches!

    Sarries are pushing the boundries and offering world class rugby to a part of europe where they have no quality rugby & will be inspired by this gesture.

    The real winner here is RUGBY and well done Sarries for your Ambassadorial efforts on behalf of us all.

  • Comment posted by CorseKen, at 19:42 28 Jul 2012

    #14 What core supporters? Sarries have a very small support borne out by the fact that their new home will hold just 10500 (and still will not sell out!). I actually feel sorry for the Sarries fans that do attend and are treated with continual distain. The crowd in Brussels will be swelled by Racing Metro fans and feel like a home game for them. There may be small knock on benefits for the game...

  • Comment posted by bungle, at 16:25 28 Jul 2012

    I know the game isn't included in the season ticket but I would rather have both games (there's another game with a venue to be decided) added to the cost of the season ticket and be able to go to the games that's why I buy a season ticket.

  • Comment posted by U15359228, at 13:10 28 Jul 2012

    @ 10. Bungle
    "Terrible decision to play HOME games abroad with no thought for the supporters and the only reason I have not renewed my season ticket this season"

    The Brussels game isn't included in the ST cost...

  • Comment posted by have it, at 11:05 28 Jul 2012

    I don't understand the business motive here?. Their core supporters (who attend games) are in the UK they will also have the added logistical costs.

    This can't be a case of Saracens doing their bit to expand the game.

  • Comment posted by Dr_John - not a Doctor of medicine, at 08:45 28 Jul 2012

    I can see why this would annoy some home fans, but rugby does need to do more to expand into new countries - very different to the 39th game in football, as football is already a global sport,

    Also have some sympathy with #2, Sarries have some great talent, they need to find the belief to use it. If more teams can follow the example set by the Quins, it can only be good for English rugby.

  • Comment posted by welshloiner, at 22:27 27 Jul 2012

    I think it's a good move for ex-pats (I'll be going), people who can have a weekend away and a new rugby public. It might not be popular with some but it's ony ONE game.

  • Comment posted by beshocked, at 15:56 27 Jul 2012

    MightyQuins you should watch a re run of the Saracens vs Harlequins game at Wembley in the 2009/10 season.

    Don't get too confident. It could well come back to bite you.

  • Comment posted by MightyQuins85, at 15:24 27 Jul 2012

    @5.

    Glad to hear it, but it won't stop them playing incredibly boring rugby. I hope Ashton has been practising his kick chases!

  • Comment posted by craig-the-plague, at 13:58 27 Jul 2012

    Good move for Saracens to move their "home" games further away from London, Johannesburg would be an apt home fixture for them!

  • Comment posted by U15359228, at 13:27 27 Jul 2012

    @ 2. MightyQuins85

    Keep up, there are new laws coming in this season - i.e. 1) no longer than 5secs when the ball is available at the back of the ruck and 2) front row engage when they're both ready, not when the ref calls engage.

  • Comment posted by bungle, at 19:56 27 Jul 2012

    Terrible decision to play HOME games abroad with no thought for the supporters and the only reason I have not renewed my season ticket this season

  • Comment posted by ibwa, at 13:31 27 Jul 2012

    This type of nonsense is making rugby such a bore. Rugby is the new football.

  • Comment posted by MightyQuins85, at 08:59 27 Jul 2012

    Is a shame everyone who comes to the game will be watching about 50 minutes of box kicking 20 minutes of scrums and 10 minutes of penalties.

    Saracens are doing great things for rugby off the field, but on it they are one dimensional and uninspiring. A team with so many talented backs, especially the back 3, should take some risks.

  • Comment posted by Big Pete, at 12:26 27 Jul 2012

    Another attempt by Saracens to move home games closer to their rivals. They can't sell out their 'own' stadium so they move the game and tap into into opponents fan base. Purely a commercial decision but I'm sure it'll be spun with 'taking rugby to a new audience' flannel.

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