A sell-out crowd watched Harlequins beat Leicester at Twickenham in the Premiership final © Getty Images

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Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership

Teams: England

Premiership Rugby have reported a rise in attendances in the English top flight for the 2011/2012 season.

A decline had been anticipated due to the Rugby World Cup during October and November - during the last World Cup season attendances dropped by 6% - but Premiership Rugby have revealed a rise of 1.1% with 1,697,177 fans in total watching top flight rugby this season.

"In the context of this year this is a remarkable result for Aviva Premiership Rugby," said Premiership Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty. "It is due to the support of our loyal fans and the hardwork put in by each and every one of our 12 Aviva Premiership Rugby clubs."

On average 12,572 fans attended each match compared to 12,433 in 2010-11. The figures confirmed the continued growth of the competition, which produced an average attendance of 5,476 just 12 years ago.

McCafferty added: "Facilities are the key to this rise. Compare our stadiums now to the way they were 12 years ago and many clubs are unrecognisable.

"We've also managed to increase the number of sell outs, year on year, from 22 to 28 and it was only two months ago that Saracens and Harlequins set a new world record for a club game when 83,761 came to Wembley to watch their Aviva Premiership Rugby match.

"Last Saturday's Aviva Premiership Rugby Final was a triumph as well with 81,779 packed into Twickenham. Everyone involved in Aviva Premiership Rugby, and all our partners,should be very proud."