After selling out in under three hours, next week's URC final between Munster and the Stormers is set to be one of the most anticipated league finals since the Celtic League began in 2001.
Munster, as is normally the case, are once again coming in force. Despite the travel hours and cost, URC CEO Martin Anayi stated - on The42's Rugby Weekly Extra subscriber podcast - that a remarkable 5,000 travelling fans are expected in Cape Town.
We've a team out there getting ready, there's a lot of buzz.
I think we sold the 3,000 tickets made available to Munster, they all went immediately, and they reckon there's going to be at least 5,000 Munster fans in the stadium.
The DHL Stormers are looking to retain their 2022 crown which they won in their first year of participation, while Munster are looking for their first piece of silverware since 2011.
Munster Ready To Take Over Cape Town Ahead Of Stormers Duel
15 April 2023; Mike Haley of Munster is tackled during the United Rugby Championship match between DHL Stormers and Munster at DHL Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by Carl Fourie/Sportsfile
READ HERE: Stormers Head Coach Stokes The Flame As He Calls Out Munster 'Cheap Shots'
In other Munster news, two games against the Barbarians have been announced for Thomond Park for September 30th. Both the men's and women's team will face off against the representative side on a double header day.
The Munster website laid out the full details:
"Munster Rugby will face the Barbarians at Thomond Park in a historic double-header for the province with the women’s and men’s squads facing respective invitational sides on Saturday, September 30.
"The current Interprovincial Champions will get the action underway at 2pm while the men’s side will kick-off at 4.30pm.
"A festival of rugby awaits in what will be a great family occasion for the Limerick venue, having last hosted the Barbarians in November 2017. It was on the same day that history was created as the first-ever Barbarian’s women’s fixture took place, with Munster providing the opposition.
"While this will be the first time the men’s sides face each other, the world’s most famous invitation side previously played Tonga and Ireland on their visits to Thomond Park.
"The occasion will see players secure valuable game-time ahead of the respective club seasons commencing with an exciting showcase of attacking, adventurous rugby in store for supporters."
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