Millennium Stadium curse lives on
May 8, 2002

The toss of a coin could set the tone for the Heineken Cup final at the Millennium Stadium on 25 May - and it will not be the toss for choice of ends or kick-off.

The South changing room in the stadium, the magnificent complex completed in time to host the 1999 Rugby World Cup finals, has become the subject of a losing hoodoo that not even renowned Feng Shiu consultant Dr Paul Darby has been able to lift.

On Monday (May 6), Rushden and Diamonds became the 11th successive soccer team to return to the South changing room as losers as they went down in the Division 3 play-off final.

By contrast, two days earlier Arsenal went back to the North locker room with the FA Cup tucked under their arms as the big time winners.

On the rugby front, where two teams have met at the "neutral" venue of the Millennium Stadium, John Eales' Australia won the 1999 World Cup after emerging from the North dressing room - as did Llanelli and Newport when they won the Welsh Cup in 2000 and 2001 respectively.

"The allocation of changing rooms will be done by the toss of a coin well in advance of 25 May," said ERC Media Manager Diarmaid Murphy.

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