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Rugby

"It would have been an unmitigated disaster" - ECPR grateful Leinster in Champions Cup final

Charlie Morgan says the EPCR (European Professional Club Rugby) will be relieved at least one Iri...



Rugby

"It would have been an unmitigated disaster" - ECPR grateful Leinster in Champions Cup final

Charlie Morgan says the EPCR (European Professional Club Rugby) will be relieved at least one Irish province has reached the Champion Cup final.

The Telegraph journalist joined Wednesday's OTB AM to speak about next month's showcase final between Leinster and Saracens at St. James' Park.

London's Saracens defeated Munster last Saturday, 109 miles away from their base. The Premiership side failed to attract a substantial support in Coventry's Ricoh Arena.

Munster fans vastly outnumbered the "Sarries" crowd, with a projected 12,000 Munster fans travelling overseas to face the English side on their home soil.

The official attendance was 16,235 in the 33,000 all-seater stadium.

Morgan says the atmosphere was strange at the semi-final in the Ricoh but mentioned the factors to be taken into consideration regarding the English side's lack of travelling fans.

"It was a very strange, sort of bizarre atmosphere. There were a few contributing factors to it. Sometimes it happens that the semi-finals fall over Easter weekend. The ECPR have admitted that that's an occupational hazard. There were also train scheduling problems."

Morgan says that, had the final not included one of the Irish sides, it would have been a disaster for the EPCR as two of the four semi-finalist fans do not travel well to neutral or away venues.

He hopes the final will attract a greater crowd with a strong Irish fanbase expected to travel to Tyneside for next month's crucial fixture.

"From what I hear, there has been a lot of interest for Saracens in the final, and you'd hope so. It would have been an unmitigated disaster had it been Saracens versus Toulouse. I certainly feel there will be an atmosphere at St. James' Park." said Morgan.

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Champions Cup Leinster Otb Am Rugby Union Saracens