Pro D2 flexes with an jaw-dropping season attendance record

PRO D2 has recorded the highest attendance figures in its history, with more than 1.43 million spectators passing through the gates during the 2024/25 regular season.

The figure puts the 16-team French second tier on par with the Gallagher Premiership and United Rugby Championship in terms of gross crowd numbers for a single season.

Across 30 rounds of league action, a total of 1,430,046 fans attended matches, marking a 6 per cent increase on last season’s total and underlining the continued growth and regional appeal of the competition.

The league – which is home to the likes of Courtney Lawes, Ross Moriarty and Sam Davies – averaged 5,959 spectators per game, with several clubs enjoying double-digit percentage growth.

CA Brive Corrèze Limousin topped the attendance table, averaging 11,513 fans per match – a 33 per cent rise on 2023/24. They were followed by FC Grenoble Rugby (9,589, +20 per cent) and Provence Rugby (8,361, +15 per cent).

Other notable growth came from SA XV Charente (+30 per cent, 6,267), US Montalbanaise (+38 per cent, 6,170), US Dax (+26 per cent, 5,226), Valence Romans Drôme Rugby (+26 per cent, 5,127), Biarritz Olympique (+26 per cent, 4,943), and Stade Aurillacois (+12 per cent, 3,015).

Six teams have now qualified for the PRO D2 playoffs, with promotion to the Top 14 on the line in the coming weeks. The record figures set the stage for what the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) expects to be a vibrant conclusion to the season.

“This historic season confirms the vitality of PRO D2,” President of the LNR Yann Roubert said. “The quality of the spectacle, the professionalism of the clubs, and their deep ties to their communities make this league a tremendous showcase for French rugby. Congratulations to the clubs for their commitment and passion. Now, all eyes turn to a Final Phase that promises to be thrilling.”

The 2024/25 PRO D2 figures place the league in direct competition with Europe’s top-tier competitions for fan engagement. By comparison, the Gallagher Premiership drew just over 1.42 million fans in the 2023/24 season (albeit with fewer teams) while the URC attracted similar numbers across its multi-nation format.