Supporters to return to Kingsholm

Gloucester will be the latest Premiership rugby club to host a limited number of fans after Harlequins welcomed fans back to the Stoop last week.

Despite the re-enforced government restrictions 1,000 supporters are to be welcomed to Gloucester's clash with Harlequins on Monday. The Department of Culture, Media and Sport have now capped all test events for fans at just 1,000 spectators, but Kingsholm will be next after The Stoop hosted 3,500 for their Bath match last weekend.

Following the successful trial at The Stoop for Harlequins v Bath last weekend, the event will be utilised to further demonstrate the strict delivery of social distancing measures to ensure crowd safety as rugby returns with supporters in the stands.

Lance Bradley, Chief Executive Officer, expressed his excitement in a release by Gloucester.

“We’re absolutely delighted to have been selected to host a pilot event to let fans back into Kingsholm Stadium on Monday. We believe that Gloucester Rugby fans are the most passionate in the country, and I know they’re desperate to watch our Club play live again. It should be a great advert not only for Gloucester Rugby, but for Premiership Rugby as a whole.”

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: ‘In light of increasing transmission rates, the Government is reviewing the proposed sports and business events pilots ahead of October 1 and we will unfortunately need to scale some back.

‘We know fans and audiences are eager to return, and jobs depend on this too, so work continues around the clock on the moonshot project with the ambition of having audiences back much closer to normal by Christmas, if safe to do so.’