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‘It’s not football!’ seems the obiligatory reply to Premiership Rugby’s away end trial which has resulted in mixed reviews.
Last week’s first attempt at the Stone X saw a boisterous Gloucester away end quickly silenced due to their side’s convincing loss to Saracens.
The football style chanting of ‘What do we think of Sarries? S**t!’ and ‘north London’s a s**thole, I want to go home’ could be heard from the away end, who were almost immediately threatened with eviction by the Saracens stewards early into the contest.
Did the teenagers on their rugby tour cross the line? Perhaps, but an increase in atmosphere is what the league desperately needs.
Premiership grounds up and down the country are all family-friendly environments, but the majority of this country’s sports fans derive from football. Whenever I’ve taken someone new to a rugby game, they’ve been blown away by the lack of atmosphere compared to the round ball game.
The product on the field certainly isn’t the problem. Premiership Rugby possesses some of the game’s biggest stars in Marcus Smith, Finn Russell and Maro Itoje and it’s very rare you’ll attend a game that isn’t free flowing and high scoring.
“Don't cheer or you'll wake them up!”
I’ve attended games where players have scored length-of-the-field tries or scored last-minute winners, only to be greeted by a round of applause with 90 per cent of the stadium remaining in their seats.
Is the problem that people don’t care enough about their Premiership team? Last year, the Sharks played their Challenge Cup semi-final against Clermont at the Stoop in west London, where there’s a significant Saffer expat population. There was a modest crowd in attendance of 5,517 but every try scored by the Durban side was greeted with a cacophony of noise that is unheard of in the English club game.
In France, villages and cities in the south, particularly, live and breathe their local club, and the atmospheres created are mind-blowing.
Hard to see how it's not the best of both worlds
It should be important to note that people still have a choice. Any Harlequins fan on Saturday may sit where they like at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, but there will be a section of supporters all together.
A passionate supporter who wants to be surrounded by like-minded fans to chant ‘The Mighty Quin’ and ‘Harlequins (clap, clap, clap)’ - don’t get me started on the need to overhaul rugby’s songsheets - may do so. However, if a Harlequins fan wishes instead to watch the game in a different part of the stadium, potentially an area with a better view, then they are free to do so.
Critics argue it will turn rugby into football and replicate its sporting arch enemies' hooliganism, but when you look at the 50-plus-year-olds who populate the lion's share of the league’s crowds, do they really look like hooligans to you?
Time for Quins fans to sing loud and proud
Gloucester’s first attempt wasn’t the best, but the odd swear word never hurt anyone.
Harlequins always travel in good numbers, and here’s hoping their trial this weekend will allow them to sing their chants and get behind their beloved team.
Watch out for any prawn sandwiches thrown your way, Tigers fans!