Euro Cup hits one-million mark

NEWS: The fans are well and truly back in stadiums at Champions Cup venues.

For the first time since 2013/14 over one million spectators will have attended Champions Cup matches over the course of this season.

Saturday’s 28th Champions Cup final at Dublin’s Lansdowne Road Stadium will be played in front of a sold-out capacity crowd, while 35,000 spectators are expected at the Challenge Cup Final on Friday.

By the time the curtain falls on the action on Saturday, Champions Cup matches will have welcomed 1,038,691 spectators across Europe and South Africa, hitting a milestone figure for the current season.

“This has been a tremendous season for the Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup,” EPCR Chairman Dominic McKay said.

“With over one million supporters attending matches across Europe and South Africa, it once again demonstrates the scale, quality and stature of the EPCR competitions.

“A huge thank you to all the supporters watching in the stands across Europe and South Africa and the millions watching around the world. This weekend’s Finals promises to be another very special sporting occasion.”

Over 400,000 spectators have also attended EPCR Challenge Cup matches over the course of the season.

Glasgow Warriors, who are appearing in their first EPCR final, face RC Toulon in the EPCR Challenge Cup decider with both clubs chasing a first Challenge Cup title.

Saturday’s eagerly-anticipated showpiece match will see two of the world’s most powerful clubs, Leinster and holders, Stade Rochelais, face off with the aim of making their own history with Leinster chasing an elusive fifth star and Stade Rochelais looking to secure back-to-back wins.

Global stars of the game will be on show in Dublin with EPCR Player of the Year nominees, Caelan Doris, Garry Ringrose and Josh van der Flier of Leinster likely to feature along with the Stade Rochelais captain, Grégory Alldritt.

Toulon and Italy star, fan favourite, and a Challenge Cup winner in 2017, Sergio Parisse, will be playing in his last EPCR match.

Players from as many as eight countries – Argentina, Australia, Fiji, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Samoa and South Africa – are in line to be selected in the respective Champions Cup match day squads, and the Leinster v Stade Rochelais showdown will be watched by TV viewers in close to 200 countries worldwide.

The EPCR Finals Weekend in Dublin will welcome fans from across Europe and further afield, bringing an expected economic benefit of €50-million to the city and greater Dublin area, 10 years on from when the finals last took place in Ireland.

CHALLENGE CUP FINAL

Friday, May 19

Glasgow Warriors v Toulon
(Lansdowne Road Stadium, Dublin – Kick-off: 20.00; 2`1.00 French time; 19.00 GMT)

CHAMPIONS CUP FINAL

Saturday, May 20

Leinster v Stade Rochelais
(Lansdowne Road Stadium, Dublin – Kick-off: 16.45; 17.45 French time; 15.45 GMT)

Goosebumps 💯💯💯@leinsterrugby v @staderochelais chapter 2 incoming…#HeinekenChampionsCup #ItJustHitsDifferent pic.twitter.com/6j7aWnFj5T

— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) May 18, 2023