Rugby is set to return to Páirc Uí Chaoimh next season, as it looks like Munster will bring another European tie to the ground.

After hosting exhibition tests against Springboks A and the Crusaders in recent years, last season the home of Cork GAA hosted its first competitive game when Munster thrashed Gloucester in the Champions Cup.

It was a huge day as the Cork crowd came out on a blustery, horrid day in December, and after Munster’s tasty draw for next season’s Champions Cup, there could be a huge game on the cards for the stadium.

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A general view of a scrum during the Investec Champions Cup match between Munster and Gloucester at SuperValu Páirc Ui Chaoimh in Cork. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

In the draw on Wednesday in Dublin, Munster drew Gloucester (again), along with Pat Lam’s Bristol Bears, Racing 92 and, excitingly, reigning back-to-back champions Bordeaux-Begles in Pool 3 of the competition.

And with that stacked group, Simon Lewis of the Irish Examiner has reported that Munster will host a Champions Cup game at the ground next season.

Fans will have to wait for the EPCR to release the fixture list to find out who they’ll face in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, but any one of that selection, barring Gloucester, has a decent storyline. Bristol could see the return of Pat Lam to Ireland with his exciting brand of attacking rugby.

Then, with Bordeaux, it’s the reigning back-to-back champs and undisputably the best side in the world. Then, if Racing 92 are chosen, it’ll mark 10 years since the passing of Anthony ‘Axel’ Foley, who passed in the hours leading to Munster’s game against Racing in Paris in 2016.

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Tadhg Beirne. Pic: Paul Phelan/Sportsfile

Munster are said to have an agreement with Cork GAA to host one game at the ground in either October or December, so the hope is a big-name European tie to be announced soon to sell tickets.

The extra income would be very much welcomed, as at the Annual General Meeting in Cashel RFC on Tuesday night, honorary treasurer Tom Kinirons warned that the continued deficits caused by the drop in on-field output are ‘unsustainable.’

It has been a rough season for the province, with controversy after controversy marring Clayton McMillan’s first year in charge. Next term can’t come around quick enough.