Unrealistically optimistic? The Mad Monk helped London Irish fans top-score with a passion rating of 158
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London Irish fans more passionate than local rivals
February 17, 2012
London Irish were found to have the most passionate supporters of all the Aviva Premiership’s London clubs in a scientific investigation last weekend.
Twelve fans from each of the four London clubs – Irish, Harlequins, Wasps and Saracens underwent a variety of experiments as they watched their teams play in big derby games.
After calculating the supporters’ psychological commitment to their club and time spent following their team over the past two seasons, researchers measured the fans’ anxiety and testosterone levels, as well as their heart rates.
And although Irish lost 30-23 at Harlequins last Saturday, their supporters – who included our very own columnist Mad Monk – top scored with a passion rating of 158.
Wasps, who were beaten 22-17 at Saracens, had the second highest score of 155, Harlequins were next with 139 and Saracens were last with 104.
Of the eight sets of fans measured so far, Irish are rated second behind Gloucester.
The project will be completed before the end of the season when testing is done on supporters of Newcastle, Sale, Worcester and Exeter.
A researcher from the University of Bath said: “There will always be arguments, but we believe we have devised the most objective way to identify and quantify passion.”
London Irish fans were also found to be the most unrealistically optimistic!
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