Heineken Cup pool attendance record smashed
New attendance record as European quarter-final qualification goes down to the wire again
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Once again, the Heineken Cup qualification combinations and permutations went right down to the wire with the top four seedings for the quarter-finals of Europe’s premier club tournament only confirmed during the very last tension-packed games of Round 6.
Please find attached a comprehensive review of last weekend’s 12 Heineken Cup Round 6 games including the quarter-final pairings, notes, match summaries, reaction, tournament statistics, tables, leading scorers and a discipline update.
ASM Clermont Auvergne grabbed the No 2 seed spot behind front-runners, Ulster Rugby, with a hard-fought bonus-point victory over Racing Metro at Stade Marcel-Michelin, while Harlequins managed to book their place in the Amlin Challenge Cup last eight with a win in the dying minutes at Parc y Scarlets.
When the dust settled, a truly heavyweight Heineken Cup quarter-final line-up emerged with six former champions, and a total of 16 European titles, among the eight qualifiers. The ties in early April will positively bristle with atmosphere and quality as Ulster host Saracens, Clermont take on Leicester Tigers, holders Toulon clash with European specialists, Leinster, and Toulouse go to fortress Thomond Park for the first time in their history.
Meanwhile, Northampton Saints, Harlequins and Gloucester Rugby have qualified for the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals as the third, fourth and fifth best pool runners-up where they will join Amlin pool winners, Bath Rugby, London Wasps, Stade Francais Paris, Sale Sharks and Brive.
As the premier competition was delivering another rollercoaster Round 6 full of intrigue, spectators were voting with their feet to set a new Heineken Cup pool stage attendance record. The total for the six rounds went through the 900,000 barrier for the first time in history, rising to an impressive 921,196, and last weekend, there were sell-outs at Thomond Park, Welford Road and the RDS, along with record crowds at Cardiff Arms Park and Scotstoun.
Exact dates, venues and kick-off times for the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals will be announced later this week.
Notes
This season’s total pool stage attendance rose to a new record total of 921,196, up 6% on 2012/13
There were Round 6 sell-outs at Thomond Park, Welford Road and the RDS with record attendances at Cardiff Arms Park (12,125) and Scotstoun (6,541)
There are six former Heineken Cup champions in the quarter-final line-up, and the eight clubs have 16 European titles between them
Ulster go into the knockout stage with six wins from six. No club has won the Heineken Cup in the same season that they had a 100% record from the pool stage
When Toulouse clash with Munster in April, it will be the four-time champions’ first visit to Thomond Park
Toulon have won all seven of their Heineken Cup games at Stade Mayol, including last season’s quarter-final win over Leicester Tigers
The Ulster v Saracens quarter-final is a repeat of last season’s game which Saracens won 27-16 at Twickenham Stadium
Munster have won six out of their seven home quarter-finals. The one defeat was by Ulster at Thomond Park in 2012
Clermont, who take on Leicester Tigers, are now unbeaten in 71 games at Stade Marcel-Michelin
The last time Leinster played a quarter-final in France, they famously defeated Toulouse 41-35 in 2006
Ulster’s one previous quarter-final at home was their victory over Toulouse at Ravenhill in their tournament winning season of 1998/99
Saracens’ visit to Ravenhill will be their first away quarter-final
Toulon and Leinster will be meeting for the first time in the Heineken Cup
