Saracens have become the third team to announce that their Heineken Cup quarter-final this weekend is a sell-out - the first time the English club have reported a capacity crowd for any match.
The last of the 18,214 tickets for their Vicarage Road showdown with the Ospreys on Sunday was snapped up today for them to join Toulouse and Gloucester Rugby in selling out well ahead of matchday.
The tie between Toulouse and Cardiff Blues at Le Stadium will have a capacity 35,009 crowd and all 16,500 Kingsholm tickets have long since gone for Gloucester Rugby's home clash with Munster.
London Irish, who play Perpignan at the Madejski Stadium in the first of the quarter-finals on Saturday afternoon, have sold 14,000 tickets and anticipate a considerable walk-up on the day.
Saracens are appearing in the Heineken Cup knock-out stages for the first time and the sell-out smashes their previous tournament home crowd record by around 7,000 fans.
"This is the first official sell-out in the history of the club and that's a fantastic achievement for the whole organisation," said Saracens Chief Executive Mark Sinderberry.
"We've heard stories of supporters returning early from their honeymoon to be there on Sunday, others having to leave Wales well before dawn, and some even flying in from France and Ireland to see to the match live.
"There are no hotel rooms left in Watford, the local cafes are bracing themselves for a memorable run on 'bacon rolls' first thing Sunday morning and pubs in the area will be opening from around 10 to accommodate the masses.
"There's no doubt this will be a big game and a great day out at Vicarage Road . . . and all we can say is arrive early."
It will be the biggest crowd for a decade at Vicarage Road, which is currently at a reduced capacity of 18,214 due to redevelopment works.
HEINEKEN CUP QUARTER-FINALS
(All kick-offs LOCAL time)
SATURDAY, 5 APRIL
London Irish v Perpignan (15.00)
Gloucester Rugby v Munster (17.30)
SUNDAY, 6 APRIL
Saracens v Ospreys (12.30)
Toulouse v Cardiff Blues (16.00)
