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How Welsh PRO14 attendances compare when the English visit in Europe
By Rhiannon Garth Jones
With one English club chairman claiming at the weekend that there will be a British League up and running in two years’ time, it is being claimed that attendances at regional rugby grounds in Wales would theoretically increase.
However, it’s not as if there currently isn't any annual meetings between English and Welsh clubs. They already face off every year in European competitions.
Here, RugbyPass looks back at the 2018/19 season to compare attendances at the four Welsh regions in the PRO14 and how they fared whenever an English club visited.
Welsh PRO14 home averages
Scarlets: 8,443, Cardiff Blues: 7,360, Ospreys: 6,812, Dragons: 5,123
The success of Judgement Day, when all four Welsh regional sides play the final derby match at the Principality Stadium, significantly skews average attendances. This year there was 51,297 present, so we have excluded those numbers from Cardiff’s and Dragons' average home crowd.
Welsh PRO14 derby home averages
Scarlets: 10,267, Cardiff Blues: 10,082, Ospreys: 9,521 Dragons: 7,286
Welsh PRO14 non-Welsh opposition home averages
Scarlets: 7,760, Cardiff Blues: 6,582, Ospreys: 5,797, Dragons: 4,518
Welsh home European tournament averages
Cardiff Blues: 9,267; Scarlets: 7,857, Ospreys: 6,049, Dragons: 4,503
Welsh home European versus English opposition
Cardiff Blues: 12,018 (v Saracens), Scarlets: 8,087 (v Leicester), Ospreys: 6,184 (v Worcester), Dragons: 4,600 (v Northampton)
Attendances at European games against English sides were higher for all four Welsh regions than their average PRO14 attendances against non-Welsh teams. In the case of Cardiff, it was hugely up by 5,436.
The figure for Scarlets versus Leicester Tigers was adversely affected by the fact Scarlets were already out of the qualification picture at that stage.
The previous year they hosted 11,479 fans in their group fixture against Bath when they were still in contention for the knockout stages. That was noticeably higher than their non-derby PRO14 average.
Glancing at these figures, an argument can be made that rare competitive fixtures against English teams are more popular for Welsh regional rugby supporters than frequent home games against PRO14 opposition from Ireland, Scotland, Italy and South Africa.
The big question, though, is would this attraction of playing the English clubs increase if the fixtures were far more frequent as part of an Anglo-Welsh League?
That is the dilemma which Welsh club must ponder before any agreement is signed to leave behind the PRO14 in its current guise.
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Latest Comments
A new hard edge to Wallaby rugby that sorts out who is "all in" versus those in two minds. Razor should take note and forget his push for off-shore selections and infatuation with Mounga.
Go to commentsI like the idea of Elrigh Louw as a long-term option for captaincy. Honestly, it’s hard to say who else could take on that role after Siya Kolisi, as 2027 is still a long way off. In my opinion, Siya will likely go to the Rugby World Cup in 2027 unless injury or a significant dip in form prevents him.
Between now and 2027, I think the captaincy will be shared among several players as Siya’s playing time is carefully managed—a strategy the Springboks have been implementing for some time. Younger players like Salmaan Moerat might get opportunities to captain in tier-two matches, as we’ve already seen. Other emerging talents like Jordan Hendrikse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu could also be considered, though the Boks have traditionally favored forwards for captaincy roles. Damian Willemse is another possibility, but he first needs to play his way back into the team.
My personal feeling is that there should be an effort to appoint a black captain to replace Siya. His captaincy has been pivotal in broadening rugby's appeal across racial groups in South Africa over the past 7 years. More so than any other period in the last 30 years.
Form permitting, Moerat is a strong contender, given his leadership qualities and pedigree. However, some might view such an appointment as political, potentially overlooking Moerat's real potential and the broader significance of such a decision.
Other players with leadership potential have been mentioned in the past, such as Phepsi Buthelezi. However, it remains to be seen whether the former DHS star will secure a permanent spot in the Springbok lineup. The first Zulu captain of the Springboks? Would be nice, but unlikely given the competition for the 8 jersey.
One positive aspect of the uncertainty around Siya’s long-term successor is the way the Springboks have emphasized shared leadership among senior players. This approach has lessened the pressure on a single captain and allowed the team to thrive collectively.
When Siya was first appointed, there was skepticism about his leadership credentials. And whether he was the best 6 in the country. The shared leadership strategy gave him the support and platform to grow into the exceptional captain he is today. And he's proven critics wrong about his abilities as a player.
I find it interesting that he's playing at 8 for the Sharks. Rassie has made a habit of taking 36ers and above to the World Cup, players who bring options to the table like Frans Steyn, Schalk Brits, Duane Vermeulen and more recently Deon Fourie.
All of SA wants to see Siya win a 3rd World Cup. That's for sure.
And if he goes, he'll lead.
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