The 30th season of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup got off to a record-breaking start.
A 5% increase in matchday attendance compared to rounds one and two last season highlights the growth for rugby’s elite club competitions.
Fan engagement has also significantly increased with over four million views on YouTube representing a 115% year-on-year increase, and an 83% increase in website users since the start of season compared to last year.
Not even Storm Darragh could hold the fans back in round one, with people flocking to stadiums to support their teams across Europe and South Africa.
On average, there was a 5% increase in matchday attendance across both the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup after two rounds.
French club Vannes made their debut in the Challenge Cup this season, against Gloucester, in front of a sell-out home crowd at La Rabine stadium, and secured their first victory in the competition.
The round-one clashes between Bayonne and the Scarlets, and Toulouse and Ulster also saw sell-out crowds, while Gqeberha’s Nelson Mandela Stadium hosted over 23,000 fans for its first Champions Cup match as the DHL Stormers faced triple-Champions Cup winners Toulon.
Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images
The post Fans flock to European cup matches appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The 30th season of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup got off to a record-breaking start.
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