Tournaments often start slowly, accruing interest over the seasons. The Champions Cup is a prime example – the inaugural final between Toulouse in Cardiff at the Arms Park in 1996 pulled a crowd of 21,800 – as are the old domestic cups in England and Wales which both started in 1972.

Gloucester and Moseley were the first finalists in England, watched by a crowd of 10,500, while in Wales Neath beat Llanelli at the Arms Park before 10,000 spectators: when the sides met in the 1988 final, they drew a then-record crowd for a club match, 56,000, which was beaten a year later by Bath and Leiceste...