Gallagher Premiership bosses are set to follow football’s lead and introduce designated away sections for fans at English club rugby matches.
Rugby games at both domestic and international level see supporters from the two participating teams intersperse with no specific ticketing blocks.
It is the exact opposite in football, where segregation is common – often with security in mind. Rugby has embraced the fact such a scenario is not needed in the sport.
However, things could look different in the future as the Premiership seeks to try new things with a view to growing the league’s appeal and making it more commercially sustainable.
It has been considered that having specific away supporter sections will improve the atmosphere at matches and add to the rivalries between the 10 competing sides.
Gallagher Premiership rugby clubs are set to introduce ‘away fans sections’ at games
Rugby bosses want to seize on the sport’s growing popularity and improve the fan experience
Under English rugby’s new Professional Game Partnership, the Premiership clubs work together with the RFU. Away fans sections have been put forward as a new idea.
‘It’s something we discuss in our joint marketing group,’ said Rob Calder, Premiership Rugby’s chief growth officer.
‘There are a number of clubs that are very keen to engage on that – Bristol, Northampton – and we’ve talked to them about identifying areas and getting the pricing, and communication right. ‘That’s one of the things we’re doing. We are having another crack at that this season.’
understands Northampton are the Premiership’s leading contender to be the first club to introduce away seating.
For away European matches, fans of travelling English teams do tend to sit together, predominantly for logistical reasons. But it does allow their voices to be heard more.
For example, when Harlequins claimed a famous Champions Cup away win over Racing 92 last season, their supporters were all in one block of Paris’ La Defense Arena.
The game’s atmosphere was much improved as a result and it is exactly that Premiership Rugby want to achieve at their matches moving forwards.
This weekend, the Premiership is holding its derby weekend with all five ties taking place between geographical rivals.
Northampton will be one of the first teams to trial the new partitioning of fan sections
Northampton bosses belief they can lead the way in rolling out the initiative for other clubs
Premiership Rugby chief executive Simon Massie-Taylor welcomes the return of three clubs
It is these sorts of games that the Premiership believes would benefit hugely from having designated sections for away fans.
Wasps, Worcester and London Irish have moved a step closer to a rugby return after they all applied for a place in a revamped second tier competition for next season.
The three sides went out of business in the 2022-23 campaign after being beset by financial problems but hope to join what is currently the Championship for 2025-26.
But to do so, there are still significant hurdles to overcome including the fact they must pay back all money owed to creditors when they fell out of existence.
There are a number of ex-players who weren’t paid their club salaries who would come under that bracket.
There is also another potential conflicting factor in that both Wasps and Worcester are currently owned by the same businessman in Chris Holland.
Wasps, who have previously been based in London and Coventry, have committed to re-establishing themselves in the south east, with a particular focus on the county of Kent.
Premiership Rugby chief executive Simon Massie-Taylor has welcomed the potential return of three of his league’s former clubs, so long as their financial debts are paid first.
‘It has been a challenging two years for Wasps during which time we have worked tirelessly to rebuild a great club,’ said Holland.
Wasps are one such team working their way back to the Premiership having reestablished the club in the south east of England
Fans could enjoy seeing their favourite rugby teams with a football-style atmosphere
‘Our efforts have always been focused on returning Wasps to a league that shares our values and to be able to compete at the highest level. Submitting our expression of interest for tier two is a key milestone in our recovery.’
The potential return of Wasps, Worcester and London Irish to English rugby’s second tier is controversial in some quarters given that in the past, clubs such as London Welsh have been forced to drop to the lowest level of the game after becoming financially insolvent.
Bristol’s England international Max Malins, the Premiership’s player of the month for September, is out for eight weeks with a knee injury.
