Munster attract largest average home gate in Magners League

MUNSTER continued to attract the biggest support in the Magners League this season with ticket sales averaging 18,600 ticket for the province’s home games.
Ticket sales for Munster’s nine home League games increased by 4 per cent on last season, when Tony McGahan’s men claimed the Magners League title.
And Munster’s average home attendance is some 10,000 higher than the average in the competition as a whole.


Crowds for the 18 rounds of regular Magners League matches topped the three-quarters of a million mark for the first time ever at 771,852, representing an increase of 5.5 per cent on last season.
Average gates now stand at 8,576, more than double the average of 3,802 recorded in the 2003-04 season when home and away games in the league first began. Director of Celtic Rugby, David Jordan said: “Congratulations must go to Munster on ending another season as the Magners League’s Best Supported Team.
The loyalty of their fans in renowned throughout Europe, and the support they give their team is outstanding.
“Almost all Magners League teams have recorded an increase in their gates this year; Glasgow Warriors by nearly 28 per cent, Cardiff Blues 25 per cent whilst Connacht have seen an 8 per cent increase.
“This is a remarkable achievement in a year of economic turmoil, travel chaos and weather interruptions.”
Meanwhile, Munster will learn the identity of their opponents for the pool stages of next season’s Heineken Cup on Tuesday, June 8.
The draw for the six Pools of four teams each will take place on Tuesday week.
As Munster are ranked as a Tier 1 side, the two-time Heineken Cup winners cannot be drawn in the same pool as Heineken Cup holders Toulouse, irish rivals Leinster, Leicester Tigers, Cardiff Blues or Biarritz Olympique.
It has been confirmed that current Ireland Under 20 international Paddy Butler has joined Munster’s Development contracted players for the coming season.
Shannon star Butler, who impressed at number 8 for Ireland throughout the course of their U20 Six Nations Championship earlier this season, featured in the recent British & Irish Cup final game for Munster against Cornish Pirates in Cornwall earlier this month.
Next month Rockwell College graduate Butler will join Munster Academy players, Simon Zebo, Dave O’Callaghan and Brian Hayes on the Argentina bound Ireland Under 20 World Cup squad.

Colm Kinsella