While the format of the Magners Celtic League has changed over the years, the most recent attendance figures available (with one round of matches remaining) indicates that Irish rugby has had one of its most successful seasons in terms of attracting people to home games. The average gate for the four provincial teams is now almost 8,000.

The overall attendances in Ireland so far are up by a third, thanks largely to the enthusiastically supported "Last Stand" crowd at Lansdowne Road, when Leinster played Ulster in the final match at the old stadium, a game that attracted over 40,000 people.

But Celtic League crowds in general are up 20 per cent overall in the three competing countries. There have been 15 five-figure gates so far this season compared to 10 in the whole of last season (over all three unions).

Of the four provinces, Leinster are set to become the highest supported team based on the size of their average gates.

Michael Cheika's side drew over 112,722 spectators to their home games in Donnybrook and Lansdowne Road since last autumn for an average of 12,525 spectators for each game. This is up from an average of 5,804 in 2005/'06.

So far in the competition 37 league matches have been played in Ireland, and they have attracted a total of 293,072 spectators. That figure is up 33.3 per cent on last year's total of 219,837.