Red Army are terrace tops

MUNSTER’S legendary supporters have helped the province scoop another award for the best supported team in the Magners League.

Indeed, Munster is officially the third best supported team in Europe with an average attendance for the season of just short of 18,000; that takes into account the fact that four Magners League games were played at Musgrave Park, where capacity is only a third of the space at Thomond Park.

Stade Francais have had an average attendance of 26,000 while Toulouse topped the 21,000 mark; Leicester and Harlequins come next while Leinster’s average of close to 15,000 indicates the increasing popularity of rugby as a spectator sport in Ireland.

David Jordan, director of Celtic Rugby said: “The success that Munster have experienced on the pitch has been reflected off it with the confirmation that they are the league’s best supported team for 2008/09.”

“The award reflects both the hard work behind the scenes and the fact that Munster’s loyal fans are turning out in all weathers to endorse a style of rugby that has seen their team become Magners League champions.”