URC
Fans turn up in record numbers as URC makes history
History was made as the overall attendance record for a single round in the BKT United Rugby Championship was broken in Round 11 with over 123,000 fans packing into stadiums across both hemispheres.
The total of 123,307 surpassed the previous record of 121,177 as sell-out crowds and season-high attendances were reported in Belfast, Cardiff, Dublin, Durban, Edinburgh and Parma.
Both the 1872 Cup game between Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors in Scotland and the Cell C Sharks v Vodacom Bulls fixture drew in crowds of 25,000 while games in Dublin (17,560), Belfast (16,672) and Cape Town (15,001) all drew attendances of over 15,000.
It caps an impressive two-week period for the BKT United Rugby Championship with nearly a quarter of a million fans attending the Christmas and New Year derby games. Of those 16 fixtures, there were three sell-outs and a total of nine season-high attendances.
Underscoring the impressive achievement, Martin Anayi, CEO, United Rugby Championship said: “To break the overall attendance record for a single round in the league’s history is yet another boost for the BKT United Rugby Championship. This comes just a week after the Christmas attendance was broken and again shows the superb work our clubs are doing to grow the game.
“To put this achievement in context, the previous record included a 62,000 crowd from Judgement Day in Cardiff in 2018, so to break it without hosting a major double-header is fantastic. There was barely a spare seat in Ireland, the Cardiff Arms Park in Wales was full, Edinburgh did a terrific job to get so many into BT Murrayfield for the 1872 Cup game while Zebre also had their biggest crowd of the season.
“In South Africa, the concept of playing over Christmas and New Year was very new to their market but fans have embraced ‘summer rugby’ with almost 100,000 attending over two weekends. Right now fans will have lots of demands on how they spend their money and to see so many choosing to buy tickets to support their teams in the BKT URC is humbling.”
The Vodacom Bulls were part of a two-weekend 55000+ spectacle during round 10 and 12, respectively. Stefan van der Merwe, Chief Commercial Officer, Vodacom Bulls applauded the herd for its contributions towards this historic milestone.
“We have an incredible and loyal fanbase at the Vodacom Bulls, whose dedication to supporting this brand is unwavering. We have been extremely fortunate to see them stand behind us when we began our journey in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship last season and this year, they have taken their support a step further; adding colour, love and incredible energy from the stands during the festive season,”
“We have seen now, that rugby can be that sport that entertains families and forms perfect part of all of our festive memories. This record is not only for our clubs but it is for every South African who spent money and time to be with us for more than 80 minutes over round 10 and 11. As we enter 2023, we hope to break more records in the coming festive season.”
R10 and R11 BKT URC Attendances
30,003 DHL Stormers v Vodacom Bulls (R10)
25,813 Cell C Sharks v Vodacom Bulls (R11)
25,600 Munster v Leinster (R10)
25,137 Edinburgh v Glasgow Warriors (R11)
24,721 Cell C Sharks v Emirates Lions (R10)
17,560 Leinster v Connacht (R11)
16,672 Ulster v Munster (R11)
15,001 DHL Stormers v Emirates Lions (R11)
12,125 Cardiff Rugby v Ospreys (R11)
11,480 Ospreys v Scarlets (R10)
8,566 Scarlets v Dragons RFC (R11)
8,582 Dragons RFC v Cardiff Rugby (R10)
7,338 Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh (R10)
6,041 Connacht v Ulster (R10)
3,683 Benetton v Zebre Parma (R10)
2,433 Zebre Parma v Benetton (R11)
Across Round 10 and 11 of the BKT United Rugby Championship close to a quarter of a million fans attended 16 games where the average attendance was 12,500. South Africa had the highest attendance by country with 95,538 fans attending the four derby matches in Cape Town and Durban.
This was followed by 65,873 in Ireland with one game apiece played in Belfast, Dublin, Galway and Limerick while in Wales there were two sell-outs and a season high attendance (Ospreys) across Cardiff, Llanelli, Newport and Swansea among the 40,753 attendees.
Top Three League Attendances for a Single Round
123,307 R11 Dec 30-Jan 1, 2022/23
121,117 R21 Apr 28, 2018
117,448 R10 Dec 23-26, 2022
Content & Images from – Vodacom Bulls Rugby
The Munster squad are preparing at the HPC ahead of Saturday night’s URC Round 13 clash against Cardiff at Thomond Park.
The game kicks off at 7.35pm with tickets from €20 available here.
In player news, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Crowley, Conor Murray, Calvin Nash and Peter O’Mahony have all returned to the HPC after helping Ireland to the 6 Nations title.
On the injury front, Academy back-row forward Ruadhán Quinn suffered a hand injury against Ospreys on Friday night and will be sidelined for a number of weeks.
Oli Jager and Fineen Wycherley have started their rehab following minor procedures for respective knee injuries.
Alex Nankivell is completing the RTP protocols and his availability will be determined later this week.
Simon Zebo was unavailable for the Ospreys game due to a low-grade hip injury and is due to return to training this week.
Continuing to rehab: Dave Kilcoyne (shoulder), Diarmuid Barron (foot), Roman Salanoa (knee), Jean Kleyn (knee/eye), Paddy Patterson (knee), Liam Coombes (shoulder), Patrick Campbell (shoulder).
There were 15 Munster players in AIL action at the weekend.
In Division 1A, Fionn Gibbons and Chris Moore helped Young Munster beat Dublin University with Gibbons among the tries.
Mark Donnelly lined out for Cork Constitution as they were beaten by Terenure College.
Kieran Ryan, Darragh McSweeney and Daniel Okeke couldn’t prevent Shannon falling to a defeat to City of Armagh.
In Division 1B, Colm Hogan, Jack Oliver, George Hadden, Max Clein, Cian Hurley and Jack Daly helped Garryowen to a win over Queen’s University. Hogan, Clein and Cronin were among the tries with Oliver kicking a conversion.
Scott Buckley and Andrew O’Mahony were in action for UCC as they lost to St Mary’s College.
Tickets
URC Round 13: Saturday, March 30
Munster v Cardiff Rugby, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
Women’s 6 Nations Round 3: Saturday, April 13
Ireland v Wales, Virgin Media Park, 4.45pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 16: Saturday, May 11
Munster v Connacht, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 18: Saturday, June 1
Munster v Ulster, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
The Munster squad are continuing preparations ahead of Friday night’s URC Round 12 clash against Ospreys in Swansea (7.35pm).
On the injury front, there is good news for John Hodnett (finger), Jack O’Donoghue (knee) and Simon Zebo (knee) as they all return to training this week.
Oli Jager (knee) and Fineen Wycherley (knee) are both due to see specialists this week for possible surgery.
Alex Nankivell is following the return to play protocols following a head injury in training last week.
On the international front, Craig Casey and Jeremy Loughman have returned to the squad after Ireland’s 6 Nations triumph at the weekend.
Continuing to rehab: Dave Kilcoyne (shoulder), Diarmuid Barron (foot), Roman Salanoa (knee), Jean Kleyn (knee/eye), Paddy Patterson (knee), Liam Coombes (shoulder), Patrick Campbell (shoulder).
Tickets
URC Round 13: Saturday, March 30
Munster v Cardiff Rugby, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
Women’s 6 Nations Round 3: Saturday, April 13
Ireland v Wales, Virgin Media Park, 4.45pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 16: Saturday, May 11
Munster v Connacht, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 18: Saturday, June 1
Munster v Ulster, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
Sutherland to join Glasgow Warriors
Glasgow Warriors can confirm that Scotland prop Rory Sutherland will join the club this summer.
The British and Irish Lion joins the Scotstoun-outfit from French side Oyonnax, making the move to Scotstoun on a two-year deal as Franco Smith’s squad continues to take shape.
The confirmation of the loose-head prop’s move to Glasgow also comes on the eve of his involvement in Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash with Ireland in Dublin, where he is in contention to win his 30th cap for Scotland, part of the match day squad.
The 31-year-old Sutherland will bring a dynamic ball-carrying presence to the Warriors in addition to a solid platform at the set-piece.
After making his debut for Edinburgh in 2014, the prop went on to make 91 appearances in the capital before a summer switch to Worcester Warriors in 2021.
A short-term stint with Ulster followed after Worcester’s demise in 2022, running out on 12 occasions for the Irish province.
Sutherland’s form for Scotland across the 2020 and 2021 campaigns saw him selected for the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, joining future Glasgow team-mate Zander Fagerson amongst the front-row options.
He became the first Scottish prop to represent the invitational squad since the late Tom Smith when selected for the first Test, playing just under an hour in the 22-17 victory over the Springboks.
Sutherland said: “The past couple of years have been tough since I had to leave Worcester. I’ve been at a few clubs and I haven’t had the consistency I’d have liked in my game. This move to Glasgow, and back to Scotland, offers me the chance to work on getting that back into my rugby.
“Glasgow is a really successful team, so to be offered the chance to come to Scotstoun is attractive for any player. For me, it allows me to come back home, and be closer to my family, which will work wonders for me.
“I’ve gotten close to some of the Glasgow players while in camp with Scotland and they talk highly of Franco and the culture in the club. I’m looking forward to that and getting back to the homeland!”
Head Coach Smith added: “We are pleased to be able to add a prop of Rory’s calibre to our squad ahead of next season.
“His qualities will make him a real asset to our playing group, as we continue to develop our strength in every position.
“We look forward to seeing him in action at Scotstoun over the next couple of seasons and we know that the Warrior Nation will welcome him to our club.”
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