Rugby: Super 12 records show Crusaders a big draw

Figures released yesterday show the Crusaders consistently drew bigger crowds than any other New Zealand Super 12 rugby team this year. Their average was 27,666.

Almost every record set in the 1998 season had been shattered this year. The Crusaders' attendance total was almost 5000 higher than in 1998, when 160,186 tickets were sold.

A record 615,919 fans had watched Super 12 games in New Zealand so far this season - up by almost 25,000 from four years ago.

And the average crowd for New Zealand matches was 22,887 - almost 1000 higher than in 1998.