Sold Out Signs Going Up

Gloucester's re-match with Munster on Saturday (kick-off 5.00pm/live on Sky) was an 11,000 sell-out well before Christmas, while Ulster chief executive Michael Reid was able to announce a capacity occasion today when the last of the 12,500 tickets for his side's Sunday (kick-off 1.00pm/Live on Sky) clash with Leicester Tigers at Ravenhill for their first home game on a Sunday.

Leinster Lions have already sold 12,000 tickets for their Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm/Live on RTE and Sky) match with Sale Sharks at Lansdowne Road and are hoping to reach 15,000.

"We had a crowd of 8,500 for our opening home game against Biarritz Olympique on a Saturday afternoon, but we are hoping to reach a record high for a home Pool game with up to 15,000 for the game against Sale Sharks as we move back to our traditional Friday night slot," said a Leinster spokesman.

The Llanelli Scarlets, fresh from their Welsh Celtic League record crowd of 10,197 over the Christmas period, are expecting a 9,000+ crowd for their game against twin town Agen on Friday night (kick-off 7.30pm) at Stradey Park. The game is set to be preceded by a special match between a Llanelli Scarlets Under 14 team against Agen Under 14.

Former French skipper Daniel Dubrocca, one of Agen's most famous sons, will be one of the main guests honoured at the game by the Scarlets' president, former Wales and Lions legend Ray Gravell.

"We are having a special celebratory reception with the Mayors of the two towns in Llanelli on Thursday night and then we hope, weather permitting, to have the Under 14 match as a curtain raiser," explained Llanelli chief executive Stuart Gallacher.

"We had more than 8,500 for our first game against Northampton Saints and we are expecting an even bigger gate for the clash with Agen. Pre-match ticket sales have been good to date and we are encouraging as many people as possible to buy in advance to ease congestion at the ticket office on the night.

"It is going to be a very special occasion given the long standing relationship between the two towns and aim to give the players, staff and fans a warm Welsh welcome."

Northampton Saints are getting ready to welcome back a notable old boy to Franklin's Gardens when The Borders arrive on Saturday (kick-off 3.00pm). Craig Moir was a Heineken Cup winner with the Saints in 2000 and will return to the East Midlands with the Scots. Almost 10,000 tickets have already been sold for the 12,500 capacity stadium.

Leeds Tykes are expecting to take 500 supporters with them to Scotland for their Pool 2 game against Edinburgh at Meadowbank on Friday night (kick-off 7.30pm), while the Celtic Warriors are set to be roared on by at least 300 fans when they travel to the Causeway Stadium to meet the English champions London Wasps on Sunday (kick-off 3.00pm/Live on Sky).

The Dragons are also expecting to comfortably surpass their opening round tally of 5,000 for their victory over Ulster in Pool 1 when they host the French champions Stade Francais Paris at Rodney Parade on Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm).