Premiership Rugby is trialling “away ends” at two matches next month in a bid to crank up atmospheres and boost attendances.
April’s games between Saracens and Gloucester at the Stone X stadium and Leicester against Harlequins at Welford Road will see areas designated for travelling fans to sit together.
While there will be no segregation like at football matches, Saracens and Leicester will give away supporters the option to group into one block.
“Away fans can and will sit among the main crowd, this is just giving people a choice,” said a Premiership Rugby source.
“This is not meant to be adversarial. It’ll be done in the right spirit.”
The league’s governing body say they have taken advice from players who relish playing in front of a vibrant away support. It is expected a few hundred supporters will initially be part of the trial.
“It’ll be enough fans to make a noise,” added the source.
“The players say they feed off it, and it gets more out of the home fans as it creates a back and forth.”
Across the Premiership, stadium occupancy has risen this season to around 81%, a 7% increase since 2023 as the league continues to recover from a turbulent period.
