Away ends at rugby: Harlequins fans split after trial

As Leicester’s lead stretched out in the second half, the volume dipped on the London voices though.

The lowing sound of ‘C’mon you Quins’ and more youthful chanting of star fly-half Marcus Smith’s name become less frequent and more quiet.

Only 500-odd strong, Harlequins fans were unlikely to break through often, even if the match had been more even.

By contrast, Gloucester’s fans, congregated in the more sparsely-attended Stonex Stadium for last weekend’s first trial match, made their presence felt and voices heard, external with some pithy chants about the deficiencies of London life and Saracens fly-half Fergus Burke.

Whatever Burke made of it, other players have been supportive of the idea.

Harlequins flanker Will Evans, who has spoken about the benefits of away support for visiting teams and the league as a whole,, external notably offered up applause to the Quins section.

Leicester’s players also relish focused pockets of support when on the road, according to Pinchen.

Whether they will see more of it on next season’s travels will depend on how Premiership Rugby, who will rebrand the competition for the next campaign, and its clubs’ leaders, not all of whom have initially been keen, assess these two experiments.

Judging by Saturday though, any expansion won’t be the radical change to matchday alchemy some traditionalists most feared.