Munster captain Tadhg Beirne insists the Investec Champions Cup remains the competition every team wants to win.
The Irish province, European champions in 2005-06 and 2007-08, begin their latest campaign against Racing 92 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork on Saturday.
While Munster’s players are eagerly anticipating the Pool 3 clash, ticket sales have only just passed 20,000 for a stadium that attracted more than 36,000 supporters for last season’s Champions Cup match against Gloucester.
Beirne admits the tournament has lost some of its appeal among fans but insists its standing within the game remains undiminished.
“There’s no going away from the fact that the numbers in terms of attendance and stuff around the whole competition is down,” he said.
“I remember first coming here [in 2018] and getting a ticket for a Champions Cup weekend was near to impossible. We [the players] were pleading with each other trying to get tickets off each other ourselves.
“There’s no shying away from that but that doesn’t take away from how important the competition is to us as a club and us as a team. I think it’s still the pinnacle of club rugby. It’s the competition every team wants to win because I think you’re top of the charts then, aren’t you?”
ELRIGH: Bulls want to win Champions Cup
The Ireland lock believes the Champions Cup’s ability to attract audiences across Europe continues to set it apart from domestic competitions.
“I suppose the way I look at it is every weekend I can guarantee you most people aren’t watching the Top 14 or the Premiership or some people aren’t even watching the URC but I can guarantee you every weekend when it comes to the Champions Cup whether you’re in France, England, Scotland, Wales or Ireland, you’re watching the Champions Cup.
“You’re tuning in to watch it and I think that’s the joy of that competition, is that everyone still loves to watch that competition and I think that’s why it’s so big.”
ALSO: Champions Cup tackles French TV bias
Beirne hopes Munster’s supporters will share the squad’s enthusiasm as they set their sights on a third European crown.
“To us as a club it’s huge for us and we know how big it is for our fans as well. All we want to do is bring them on an enjoyable journey in this competition. The dream is to go the whole way and it starts on Saturday.”
Photo: Tom Maher/INPHO
The post ‘Champions Cup still the pinnacle’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Munster captain Tadhg Beirne insists the Investec Champions Cup remains the competition every team wants to win.
The post ‘Champions Cup still the pinnacle’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
