Small drop in Munster attendances as Leinster top pile again

Munster’s home attendances figures in the Rabo Direct Pro12 have dipped slightly this season but the province remains the second best supported team in the competition.

Figures released this week showed an average of 761 less supporters coming through the turnstiles at Musgrave and Thomond Park. in he 2012/13 campaign.

Leinster tops the crowds list with average attendances 19,791 (up 768 on last season) while Munster have had an average of 14,137, a drop on the 14,798 from last season.

Both Ulster and Connacht have recorded increases in numbers paying in — the northerners with a massive jump of 2,011 while Eric Elwood’s side have an extra 501 attending games at the Sportsground.

Last October’s Leinster v Munster game was the best attended of the campaign with 46,280 flocking to the Aviva — the return fixture in Limerick a fortnight ago was watched by 23,037.

The RaboDirect Pro12 is set to record its best ever attendances since the competition changed to a home and away format ten seasons ago. Crowds broke through the one million mark last weekend, a full round earlier than last season, and with seven games still to play ticket sales amongst the 12 participating teams have increased by 4.9% compared to this point last year.

Average Pro 12 attendances (last season’s figures in brackets): Leinster 19,791 (19,023 + 768); Munster 14,137 (14,798-761); Ulster 10,307 (8,296 + 2,011); Ospreys 9,291 (7,686 + 1,605); Blues 8,933 (7,275 + 1,658); Scarlets 7,803 (9,006-1,203); Dragons 6,518 (6,098 + 420); Connacht 5,154 (4,653 + 501); Edinburgh 4,600 (4,252 + 348); Glasgow 4,541 (4,018 + 523); Treviso 3,510 (3,900-390); Zebre 1,977 (first season).

Top attendances: 46,280 Leinster v Munster, Aviva Stadium, Oct 6, 2012; 36,174 Blues v Ospreys/Dragons v Scarlets, Millennium Stadium, Mar 30, 2013; 23,587 Munster v Ulster, Thomond Park, Dec 29, 2012; 23,037 Munster v Leinster, Thomond Park, Apr 13, 2013; 19,443 Ospreys v Scarlets, Liberty Stadium, Dec 26, 2013.