Leinster fans should be allowed to drink alcohol in Croke Park seats but there is an attitude that rugby is seen as a “foreign sport” by the GAA, Ciara Kelly has claimed.

It follows a decision by the organisers of their Champions Cup semi-final clash against Northampton this Saturday to “respect the GAA’s rules” around alcohol in the stadium during sports games.

Leinster fans are typically allowed to drink in their seats at home games either in the RDS or the Aviva Stadium.

'Chip on the shoulder'

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, presenter Ciara Kelly said she believes rugby fans should be allowed to drink elsewhere in the stadium.

“I think it’s a GAA chip on the shoulder,” she said.

“If you are renting out Croke Park, where alcohol can be sold legally, then the people renting it out should be allowed to make up the rules.

“They don’t care when Bruce Springsteen or Garth Brooks fans drink away with gay abandon.

“I think they don’t care when people who are there looking at people playing American football drink away.”

Dan Sheehan of Leinster dives over to score his side's fourth try during the Champions Cup quarter-final match against La Rochelle at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, 13-04-2024. Image: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Ciara said the GAA sees rugby as a foreign sport.

“They don’t care what other things do, but rugby is still the foreign Sassenach sport and we’re not going to let them drink if we can’t drink," she said.

“I think it’s a chip, I genuinely think it is.

“What does the GAA care what rugby fans do when they hire out Croke Park? They let other people drink there.”

“I think it’s the foreign game, I think that’s what this is.”

'They are adults'

She said she “accepts” some rugby fans in the Aviva stadium have been left annoyed by fans getting up and down to buy drinks during matches.

“But they are adults, they’re grown people and this is infantilising them,” she said.

“I was in the Stade de France during the World Cup and they would literally deliver pints to your seat, you have a QR code on the back of the seat in front of you.

“How about letting people do what they want?”

Shane Coleman in studio today. Image: Newstalk

Presenter Shane Coleman said he respects the rule.

“I’ve been to soccer matches there and you can’t drink,” he said.

“Why do we need to drink when we’re watching a game?”

Foreign sport

He doesn’t believe the GAA looks down on rugby as a foreign sport.

“I think the GAA is well past that; they’ve opened up the stadium for them,” he said.

“This is the rules of the stadium and the rugby competition said they’re happy to comply with the rules – what’s the obsession?

“Does this mean rugby fans will have to watch the whole game now, is that the problem?”

Shane said everyone can drink before and after the match and he doesn’t see a problem with the rule.

Main image: Ciara Kelly in studio today. Image: Newstalk