Gallagher Premiership final attracts highest-ever TV audience

This year’s sold-out Gallagher Premiership final is officially the most-watched fixture in Premiership Rugby history, with an average of just under one million viewers tuning in to see Bath beat Leicester 23-21.

Across TNT Sports and ITV1, the match drew a combined average audience of 973,000 – the highest ever for a Premiership fixture.

This was in addition to a bumper cumulative peak audience of 1.26 million viewers, representing a 14% increase on TNT Sports, and an 82,000-capacity crowd that witnessed the game in person at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.

The TNT Sports average audience climbed by 15%, with the ITV1 average also rising by 10%, eclipsing the 2024 season-decider’s then record-breaking viewership figures.

The combined audience share across ITV1 and TNT Sports was 16.5%, representing one in six of all television viewers at that time.

Social reach in the week of the final also rocketed to 13.8 million – an 82% increase on 2024 – with social engagement also soaring by 24% across Premiership Rugby social channels.

Simon Massie-Taylor, Chief Executive Officer of Premiership Rugby, said: “Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final showcased the very best of Premiership Rugby.

“An enthralling contest between two iconic rugby clubs allied with sensational off-field entertainment, a host of brilliant community activations and an incredible in-stadium atmosphere made for an occasion that will live long in the memory.

“It fills me with enormous pride to see supporters wearing club jerseys from across the Gallagher Premiership as well as jerseys from community rugby clubs as fans come together for a celebration of English club rugby.

“To sell out general admission tickets before either finalist club had been determined, for the first time in our history, is a testament to the unrivalled matchday experience and special family day out that the final offers fans of all ages.

“A huge thank you goes to the players, staff and supporters of our finalist clubs – Bath Rugby and Leicester Tigers – who supported our ambition for the event and helped to deliver an unforgettable day in English rugby history.

“And with the Final 2026 already on sale to priority customers, we are thrilled that thousands of tickets have already been snapped up. In just three days, more than triple the number of early bird tickets have been sold compared to the same stage of the window last year, exceeding the total volume of priority sales with two weeks still to go.”