Sold out Croke Park 'pilgrimage' perfect for Leinster, says former Ireland prop Marcus Horan

Leinster's trip across the Liffey to Croke Park provides a "perfect" backdrop for their Investec Champions Cup semi-final against Northampton, according to Marcus Horan.

With the Aviva Stadium, Leinster’s nominated 'neutral’ venue unavailable for the game due to preparations for the Europa League final, Leo Cullen’s men will face the Saints at GAA HQ on 4 May (live on RTÉ).

On Friday afternoon, Leinster announced that the game had sold out, with 82,300 tickets snapped up in less than 36 hours.

Former Ireland and Munster prop Horan played at the stadium 10 times, nine for his country and once, against Leinster in the 2009 semi-final, for his province.

It was the home ground for Ireland when Lansdowne Road was being rebuilt from 2007 to 2010.

"For any Irishman, who grew up with GAA backgrounds, or people who were sports fans, to play at Croke Park is incredible," Horan told RTÉ Sport.

"It’s a great honour and it’s not lost on any rugby player who was able to do that or anyone that can do it in the future.

"From a Leinster point of view, they’ll be relishing the trip across the city to play over there and it’s probably just what they need.

"They need a change of venue and they need to be out of their comfort zone a little bit, with regards to having to perform.

"It’s an honour to play there and you have to match it with the performance. It’s actually perfect for them and it makes the occasion even better and I’m sure the players will rise to it."

Leinster are currently in South Africa on URC duty and have left a number of frontline players behind to prepare for the European semi-final.

Last season Munster, also in South Africa for a URC double-header, used their away run to the final to bond, and against the odds, won three times on