SANZAR happy with viewership

Cape Town - A record crowd of 61 823 watched the Waratahs clinch their maiden Super Rugby crown at Sydney's ANZ Stadium while broadcasters also posted impressive ratings for last Saturday's thrilling title decider.

Figures released this week indicate Fox Sports achieved an average live audience of 357 000 which was their best Super Rugby performance this year and second-best rated match of all-time (behind the Reds v Crusaders Final of 2011).

It also represented a 53 percent increase on last year's final, which also involved teams from Australia and New Zealand.

SKY Sport NZ attracted an average live audience of 319 000 which was their second-highest rating match this year (behind the previous week's Crusaders v Sharks semi-final) and their second-highest rating match away from New Zealand soil (behind the Reds v Crusaders Final of 2011).

While there was no South African team involved in the 2014 final, fans in the Republic were gripped with SuperSport posting an average live audience of 298 199, representing a 10 percent increase on 2013's corresponding match.

"These figures indicate immense interest in Saturday's season decider and we congratulate our three broadcast partners on achieving such positive results and bettering their benchmarks from the 2013 final," said SANZAR CEO Greg Peters.

"It was a match befitting a season decider and we also thank the 61 823 fans who combined to deliver a new attendance record for Super Rugby (eclipsing the 55 000 at the 2009 final in Pretoria).

"Every fan in attendance was rewarded with one of the all-time great Super Rugby matches and we look forward to seeing you back again in 2015 when the 'Tahs begin their title defence.

"I heartily congratulate every single person who is involved with New South Wales Rugby and the Waratahs on this well-deserved and long-awaited triumph."