The Breakdown | Rugby’s grand Ruckfest gamble cannot afford a damp squib in London finale

Financial success of the three-day finale in London later this month promises to make or break the concept Guess how many people attended the recent Oktoberfest in Munich, the famous annual pilgrimage for people with a sense of fun and a collective thirst to quench?

Admittedly the event spanned a fortnight but the figure is still pretty remarkable. There were 7. 4m visitors – a record – with around a quarter of them travelling from overseas. Now imagine even a tenth of that congregation coming together for a like-minded three-day festival in London. Endless access to quality beer, the…