The Ospreys arrived in Dublin on Saturday ahead of their RaboDirect PRO12 Final clash with Leinster buoyed from the news back at the Liberty Stadium that season memberships for next season have soared through the 5,000 barrier in just five weeks.
Having passed the final total for the current season a week ago, bosses at the region are now preparing for a further boost, with the all-time season membership record figure of 5,493 from the 2005/06 season – the first at the Liberty Stadium – set to fall over the next few days.
Ospreys Managing Director, Roger Blyth, welcomed the timely boost as recognition for the region’s efforts:
“It’s fantastic and very timely news, for the team to arrive in Dublin ahead of Sunday’s final and hear that we’ve passed 5,000 memberships for next season and are well on course to set a new record high over the course of the next few days" said Blyth.
“It sends a very firm message, despite the picture of doom and gloom that has been painted in some quarters, that regional rugby is not only alive and well in Ospreylia, but the local communities are embracing their team, their cause and what we stand for at the Ospreys, and people are respecting that this team is playing for them.
“There’s been a fantastic feeling about the place in recent weeks, epitomised in the atmosphere at the Liberty Stadium for the semi-final win over Munster two weeks ago, and it was great to be at the stadium on Friday morning to see more than 1,200 people present to watch a training sessions and wish the team good luck for the final.
“It’s quite remarkable really that we have passed 5,000 memberships after they went on sale just five weeks ago today, and the take-up is showing no sign of slowing up at the moment. The Earlybird deadline is still more than two weeks away, and the new season isn’t here for another three months, so it’s particularly exciting to try and guess where the membership total for 2012/13 will end up.”