Fans turned up in record numbers to the Christmas and New Year fixtures in the Guinness PRO14 with Rounds 8, 9 and 10 drawing a bumper attendance for the festive season.
More supporters turned up during the three-round run than ever before as 11 sell-outs from 19 fixtures saw 216,077 fans attend games in Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. This comes as figures also show that attendances for the Guinness PRO14 are up compared to this point last season.
Cardiff Blues and Ulster Rugby led the way with sell-outs in each of their two home games while Edinburgh set a new attendance record for the 1872 Cup with a crowd of over 27,000 at BT Murrayfield for their game with Glasgow Warriors in Round 9.
The three rounds accounted for a number of player milestones. Scarlets, Wales and Lions full back Leigh Halfpenny broke the 500-point barrier in the Championship while Welsh team-mate and Cardiff Blues winger Josh Adams was among 11 players to make their debut.
The derby fixtures provided a number of tight finishes with Round 8 producing the closest set of results for five seasons. The intensity produced in Round 8 was also reflected in the number of yellow cards handed out – 15 in total, which set a new record for a match round.
With 109 tries scored across all three rounds, fans got entertainment and nail-biting drama in equal measure.
FESTIVE FIXTURES BY THE NUMBERS
Round 8
Three sell-outs: Zebre v Benetton (4,000); Connacht v Munster (8,129); Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh (7,351)
- Average winning margin was just 5 points (closest set of results in 5 years)
- Five losing bonus points earned on a single match day (December 21) for the first time ever
- 15 yellow cards awarded, most ever shown in a round
Tries scored: 26
Debuts (9): Josh Adams (Cardiff Blues), Tommy O’Brien, Roman Salanoa (Leinster), Marty McKenzie (Ospreys), Tevita Ratuva (Scarlets), Ethan McIlroy, Azur Allison, Jack Regan, Stewart Moore (Ulster)
Milestones
Andrew Warwick (Ulster) played his 100th game in the Championship
Round 9
Five sell-outs: Cardiff Blues v Dragons (12,125); Scarlets v Ospreys (13,682); Ulster v Connacht (17,461); Munster v Leinster (26,267); Benetton v Zebre (5,000)
Edinburgh v Glasgow Warriors set a new attendance record for the 1872 Cup with 27,437 at BT Murrayfield
Tries scored: 32
Debuts: Niall Murray (Connacht)
Milestones
Leigh Halfpenny broke the 500-point mark for the Championship
John Cooney (Ulster), Aled Davies (Ospreys) and Scott Williams (Ospreys) all played their 100th Championship game
Round 10
Three sell-outs: Leinster v Connacht (18,300); Cardiff Blues v Scarlets (12,125), Ulster v Munster (17,461)
Tries scored: 51
Debuts: Tom Griffiths (Dragons)
Attendances for Rounds 8, 9, 10 – 2019/20 (sell-outs in bold)
Round 8
Leinster v Ulster (RDS Arena) – 16,375
Zebre v Benetton (Stadio Lanfranchi) – 4,000
Connacht v Munster (Sportsground) – 8,129
Dragons v Scarlets (Rodney Parade) – 5,517
Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh (Scotstoun Stadium) – 7,351
Ospreys v Cardiff Blues (Liberty Stadium) – 6,664
Round 9
Cardiff Blues v Dragons (Cardiff Arms Park) – 12,125
Scarlets v Ospreys (Parc y Scarlets) – 13,682
Ulster v Connacht (Kingspan Stadium) – 17,461
Edinburgh v Glasgow Warriors (BT Murrayfield) – 27,437
Munster v Leinster (Thomond Park) – 26,267
Benetton v Zebre (Stadio Monigo) – 5,000
Round 10
Ulster v Munster (Kingspan Stadium) – 17,461
Cardiff Blues v Scarlets (Cardiff Arms Park) – 12,125
Zebre v Toyota Cheetahs (Stadio Lanfranchi) – 2,200
Dragons v Ospreys (Rodney Parade) – 6,421
Benetton v Glasgow Warriors (Stadio Monigo) – 4,667
Leinster v Connacht (RDS Arena) – 18,300
Edinburgh v Isuzu Southern Kings (BT Murrayfield) – 4,873
Festive Attendances by season since Italians joined in 2010:
2019/20: 216,077
2018/19: 196,992
2017/18: 209,489
2016/17: 188,858
2015/16: 173,996
2014/15: 194,793
2013/14: 165,221
2012/13: 172,743
2011/12: 180,546
2010/11: 172,660
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