Rewind 12 months ago and English rugby's top flight appeared to be in disarray with three of its clubs Wasps, Worcester and London Irish - having gone to the wall.
But a brilliant season of running rugby, culminating in a sellout final for the ages between Northampton and Bath earlier this month, has turned the tide and fans can't get enough.
More than 5,000 tickets have been snapped during the priority ticket window for the showpiece game at Twickenham on Saturday June 14, 2024, a week later than this year's date.
Esta historia es de la edición June 30, 2024 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición June 30, 2024 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Ex-Bath wing to play for Knights
FORMER England winger Semesa Rokoduguni will play for Doncaster Knights in the Championship next season.
Hunslet become dual-code outfit
A DUAL-CODE rugby club is set to return to the Rugby League heartland of Leeds, with Jason Robinson's former club Hunslet launching a 15-man, semi-pro franchise team.
Time for players to behave properly
THERE are no 'good' responses to Melvyn Jaminet's violently racist outburst on social media, or the serious sexual assault allegations levelled against Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou during France's July tour of Argentina and Uruguay.
Why is captain replaced so early?
SO THE All Blacks keep their home record of wins at Dunedin by just one point against an England side who will be wondering what might have been.
I played my last game in 38-degree heat...
OMAN, where I have been living with my family for the last two years, is a beautiful country just like Wales with the coastline and the mountains - but with a lot fewer rugby clubs and a better climate. In fact, there is only one rugby club out here, in Muscat, where my son now plays.
Injury and illness can't stop the fun
IT'S time to dip back into the 1974 Lions tour again and 50 years ago today exactly - July 14 a much agitated manager of the Marine Hotel in what used to be called Port Elizabeth was looking for Lions manager Alun Thomas to demand both an explanation and reparation.
YOUN GUNS HARVEYCUCKSON BATH & ENGLAND U20 SECOND ROW
Harvey Cuckson thought long and hard about whether to represent England or Wales in his age-grade rugby but is certain he made the right call in pulling on the Red Rose.
European elite keen to exclude outsiders
WHICHEVER way you care to define the i-word, it was an interesting few hours for Canadian sport.
I still have a lot more to give - McNally
JOSH McNally views his move to Cardiff as the perfect outcome after for a time that his rugby career may be over.
Wales show defiance but the wait goes on
ALL week long the Red Dragon legions had planned their regimental mobilisation with just enough military precision to let them catch the action in Auckland, a bit of R & R before the serious business.