Leinster Rugby Vs. Munster Will Set A Record On Saturday
Leinster Rugby Vs. Munster Will Set A Record On Saturday
Leinster Rugby vs. Munster Rugby is the first match of the URC season between two of the favorites. And a lot of Irish Rugby fans will be there.
History will be made at Croke Park on Saturday when the BKT URC showdown between Leinster Rugby and Munster Rugby is played in front of a record league attendance.
The provincial derby clash in Dublin is heading for an 80,000-plus sellout.
That would be an echo of the last time the Irish arch rivals met in Croke Park, where they set what was a world-record attendance for a club fixture with 82,208 watching their 2009 European Cup semifinal.
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This weekend’s huge gate will comfortably surpass the previous league best of 68,262 for the Judgment Day Welsh doubleheader at the Principality Stadium in 2016.
The highest figure for an individual match was 56,344 for the 2023 BKT URC final in Cape Town, where Munster beat the DHL Stormers.
As for a regular-season fixture, the previous best was the 50,026 who attended the meeting between the Vodacom Bulls and the Stormers at Pretoria’s Loftus Versfeld in March 2024.
The addition of the top four South African sides has seen a number of bumper crowds, with 50,388 watching this year’s Grand Final between the Vodacom Bulls and Glasgow Warriors at Loftus, while 47,261 watched the DHL Stormers defeat Connacht Rugby in the 2023 semifinal in Cape Town.
There also have been crowds of 44,106; 41,205; 39,925 and 37,246 for South African derbies over the last year or so.
But now, a new benchmark is about to be set by Saturday’s all-Irish affair.
Looking ahead to what will be a huge occasion, Leinster forwards coach Robyn McBryde said:
“The nature of this one focuses the mind straight away, with more than 75,000 tickets sold already.
“The internationals are now back. It’s a big one on Saturday. Croke Park is a great stage.”
The former Wales hooker added:
“My experience is the form book goes out of the window in derbies. It’s all about winning on the day. You are not there to play pretty stuff. There is possibly of a little bit more blood and thunder around the approach, and we know there is plenty of blood of thunder about Munster.
"You can turn your season around just by having a great win over your local rivals. The nature of Munster and the threats they pose, that focuses the mind. It’s one we look forward to, but you’ve got 15 proud Munstermen in opposition, so we are going to have to be at our best.”
Giving his thoughts, Munster head coach Graham Rowntree said:
“You don't get the rivalry between Munster and Leinster until you are stuck in the middle of it. For over 75,000 people to want to attend a club game that isn't even a playoff just shows how incredible that competition is between us and Leinster.
"There is an intense, but respectful rivalry there, and they are a great team. Our recent history against Leinster would have shown how class these games have been, and certainly, from what I am seeing and hearing from the group, I am expecting a huge performance on Saturday."
United Rugby Championship Attendance Records
"Judgment Day" is a Welsh Rugby doubleheader featuring a pair of Welsh Rugby Shield matches.
- 68,262 - Judgment Day (April 2016)
- 62,338 - Judgment Day (April 2018)
- 60,642 - Judgment Day (April 2017)
- 56,344 - DHL Stormers v Munster Rugby (Final, May 2023)
- 52,762 - Judgment Day (April 2015)
- 51,297 - Judgment Day (April 2019)
- 50,388 - Vodacom Bulls v Glasgow Warriors (Final, June 2024)
- 50,026 - Vodacom Bulls v DHL Stormers (March, 2024)
- 47,261 - DHL Stormers v Connacht Rugby (Semi-final, May 2023)
- 47,125 - Glasgow Warriors v Leinster (Final, May 2019)
- 46,092 - Leinster Rugby v Scarlets (Final, May 2018)
- 44,558 - Munster Rugby v Scarlets (Final, May 2017)
- 44,106 - DHL Stormers v Vodacom Bulls (Quarter-final, May 2023)
- 41,205 - Vodacom Bulls v DHL Stormers (Feb 2023)
- 41,139 - Judgment Day (April 2023)
- 39,925 - DHL Stormers v Vodacom Bulls (Dec 2023)
- 37,904 - Edinburgh Rugby v Glasgow Warriors (Jan 2024)
- 37,246 - DHL Stormers v Hollywoodbets Sharks (Jan 2024)
- 36,174 - Judgment Day (March 2013)
URC Rugby Schedule For Round 4
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Friday, Oct. 11 URC Fixtures
Saturday, Oct. 12 URC Fixtures
- Cardiff Rugby vs Scarlets - 10 a.m. ET
- Benetton vs Hollywoodbets Sharks - 10 a.m. ET
- Edinburgh vs DHL Stormers - 12:15 p.m. ET
- Leinster vs Munster - 12:45 p.m. ET
- Ospreys vs Vodacom Bulls - 2:35 p.m. ET
- Ulster vs Connacht - 3 p.m. ET
Sunday, Oct. 13 URC Fixtures
URC Standings Table After Round 3
- Leinster Rugby: PL 3 | W 3 | D 0 | L 0 | BP 3 | PF 102 | PA 42 | DIFF 60 | PTS 15
- Glasgow Warriors: PL 3 | W 2 | D 0 | L 1 | BP 3 | PF 113 | PA 66 | DIFF 47 | PTS 11
- Munster Rugby: PL 3 | W 2 | D 0 | L 1 | BP 3 | PF 91 | PA 75 | DIFF 16 | PTS 11
- Connacht Rugby: PL 3 | W 2 | D 0 | L 1 | BP 3 | PF 93 | PA 88 | DIFF 5 | PTS 11
- Cardiff Rugby: PL 3 | W 2 | D 0 | L 1 | BP 3 | PF 82 | PA 84 | DIFF -2 | PTS 11
- Emirates Lions: PL 2 | W 2 | D 0 | L 0 | BP 2 | PF 90 | PA 43 | DIFF 47 | PTS 10
- Vodacom Bulls: PL 2 | W 2 | D 0 | L 0 | BP 1 | PF 69 | PA 37 | DIFF 32 | PTS 9
- Hollywoodbets Sharks: PL 2 | W 1 | D 0 | L 1 | BP 2 | PF 63 | PA 66 | DIFF -3 | PTS 6
- Ospreys: PL 3 | W 1 | D 0 | L 2 | BP 2 | PF 58 | PA 70 | DIFF -12 | PTS 6
- Zebre Parma: PL 3 | W 1 | D 0 | L 2 | BP 2 | PF 64 | PA 91 | DIFF -27 | PTS 6
- Dragons RFC: PL 3 | W 1 | D 0 | L 2 | BP 2 | PF 59 | PA 88 | DIFF -29 | PTS 6
- DHL Stormers: PL 2 | W 1 | D 0 | L 1 | BP 1 | PF 60 | PA 42 | DIFF 18 | PTS 5
- Ulster Rugby: PL 3 | W 1 | D 0 | L 2 | BP 1 | PF 63 | PA 101 | DIFF -38 | PTS 5
- Scarlets: PL 3 | W 0 | D 1 | L 2 | BP 1 | PF 58 | PA 68 | DIFF -10 | PTS 3
- Edinburgh Rugby: PL 3 | W 0 | D 0 | L 3 | BP 3 | PF 68 | PA 110 | DIFF -42 | PTS 3
- Benetton Rugby: PL 3 | W 0 | D 1 | L 2 | BP 0 | PF 35 | PA 97 | DIFF -62 | PTS 2
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