Connacht hoping Munster derby fixture can help set quirky world record

One of this weekend’s Guinness PRO14 derbies in Ireland is looking to break an unusual world record. 

Apparently, the global record for the greatest number of people wearing high visibility vests in the same location stands at a mere 2,499 and Irish side Connacht aim to surpass that figure at next Saturday’s fixture with Munster.

The attempted record is part of a road safety campaign launched recently by Portwest, a commercial partner of Connacht who last weekend defeated Gloucester in the Heineken Champions Cup.

With the club adding additional terracing to the Sportsground, the hope is enough people in the likely 8,129 capacity crowd will wear the vests. 

“We have an excellent partnership with Portwest and are delighted to be part of their road safety campaign,” explained Brian Mahony, Connacht’s head of commercial and marketing ahead of a league weekend featuring two Irish derbies and two Welsh derbies, along with derby fixtures in Scotland and Italy.

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“With the bumper crowd expected on Saturday evening, I’m sure supporters will really get behind the unique world record attempt.”

The provision of additional terracing at the Sportsground for bigger fixtures has become a regular feature in recent years in Galway. 

However, plans are now afoot for a €30million redevelopment of the College Road stadium on College Road that will increase capacity to 12,000 and develop a high-performance training centre on-site.

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