Writing in the Western Mail, Gareth Griffiths reports that all four Welsh regions are claiming to be winning the battle to attract bumper crowds, something which in truth have eluded all of them since the inception of the regional game in 2003.
"It's become one of the rarest sights in Welsh sport.
"Not the rugby team beating the All Blacks, not John Toshack fielding a full-strength side in a friendly match in eastern Europe, not Bradley Dredge winning a golf tournament with a late Sunday afternoon surge.
"No, I’m talking about the seats being filled behind the posts at one of our four rugby regions, all of whom have attracted derision for the relatively paltry numbers through their turnstiles between September and May.
"In fairness, the gaps are more pronounced at the more cavernous homes of the Blues, Scarlets and Ospreys, with the sight nowhere near such a regularity at the Dragons’ more modest Rodney Parade base. But still, last season, the dwindling number of people prepared to shell out to watch the four Welsh regions became a hot topic, especially given the soaring attendances of Leinster and Munster."
RSS feed
