Away ends could become a fixture in Premiership if trial proves successful

Away ends could become a fixture in the Gallagher Premiership if two trials being held next month prove successful.

The round 14 match between Saracens and Gloucester at Stone X Stadium on April 19 and Leicester’s showdown with Harlequins at Mattioli Woods Welford Road a week later will see a designated section of the grounds set aside for away fans to group together, the PA news agency understands.

Given the working title of ‘Away Days’, it is hoped that allowing supporters from visiting clubs to gather in a single stand will improve atmospheres and drive up attendances.

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Saracens and Leicester offered to be involved in the trials and the hope is that if they are successful, more teams will adopt the initiative next season.

“Away fans can and will sit amongst the main crowd, this is just giving people a choice,” said a source.

“This is not meant to be adversarial. It’ll be done in the right spirit and it will be enough fans to make a noise.

“Players playing away say they can feed off it and it gets more out of the home fans because it creates that back and forth.”

Viewing figures for the Premiership are up eight per cent and stadium occupancy for the current season has risen seven per cent since 2023 to 81 per cent, just one percent below the league’s target.