IT’S NOT ONLY a battle of European heavyweights on the pitch today as Clermont host Munster in the Champions Cup [KO 15.15 Irish time], but also in the stands.
Munster’s travelling support have built a superb reputation around the continent over the last decade, while ASM’s fanbase is well known as welcoming, loyal and passionate.
There was a truly unique spectacle this afternoon in Clermont-Ferrand, as the ‘Yellow Army’ invited the ‘Red Army’ to join them on a three-kilometre march from Place de Jaude in the city centre out to Stade Marcel-Michelin.
The party started last night, in truth, but there were 4,000 ASM supporters involved in today’s march, and well over 1,000 Munster fans too. Here’s how it went down.
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Fans started to gather in Place de Jaude from 13.30 local time, with the signing sparking up straight away
Clemont’s fans love a party
A dark, overcast afternoon in Clermont but the rugby diehards added colour
The Michelin man turned up to support his local team
As did Asterix and Obelix!
This group of Munster fans burst into ‘Stand Up and Fight’
While this little pocket belted out ‘The Fields of Athenry’
The marching got underway
Led by the Yellow Army’s very own brass band
https://vine.co/v/O6229aDub9K
The drum truck came in handy too
These clever Munster fans hitched a ride
While the Waterford lads strolled out to Marcel-Michelin
This old bus?
That would be for the brass band!
Faces in the crowd