Attendances for Premiership Rugby games have surged 10 per cent year-on-year, with almost 1m fans attending so far this season.

Approximately 995,976 fans spectators have been recorded, with an average Premiership Rugby attendance standing at 13,833.

The figure was boosted by the 77,000 who went to watch Harlequins' Big Game against Gloucester at Twickenham at the end of December.

Harlequins play a Big Game every season at the stadium just after Christmas.

In addition, live television attendances for Premiership Rugby matches are up 13 per cent. Pay-TV broadcaster BT Sport has the rights to the competition.

Mark McCafferty, chief executive of Premiership Rugby, said the increasing figures demonstrated the league’s growing appeal.

“The growth has come off the back off a huge amount of work not only at Premiership Rugby, but our 12 clubs, and these rises are testament to them,” he added.