Premiership Rugby sponsor Aviva is challenging fans from Newcastle Falcons to prove their passion for their club.

Aviva has teamed up with scientists from the University of Bath and the research team will be travelling to Kingston Park on Friday 30 March to test the passion of 15 home fans during the Falcons match against Sale Sharks.   

Tests will include heart rate monitoring throughout the match, noise levels in the ground, and salivary tests to measure hormone release and anxiety levels – all of which will be incorporated into the university’s passion algorithm.

At the end of the season, results will be compiled into the Aviva Premiership’s Passion League Table which will settle the debate once and for all. At present, Gloucester fans are leading the table, after celebrating a 177-129 ‘passion score’ victory in September over rivals Bath.

Falcons fans can get involved and represent their club by emailing avivapremiershipfans@gmail.com along with their name, age, address and mobile phone number.  Results and info can be found at avivapremiership.com/passionate.

Falcons captain James Hudson said: “Newcastle Falcons fans are immense - they come out rain, wind or shine. 

“The weather at Kingston Park is often horrible, but the South Stand, North Stand and West Stand at Kingston Park are always screaming.  It means a huge amount to the boys every time we run out.

“Our fans have also got the biggest distance to travel of all the Aviva Premiership clubs, yet bus loads travel down to watch us in London matches and we can hear them everywhere we go”. 

Louisa Cheetham, Senior Sponsorship Manager at Aviva added: “Our most passionate fans project shows that rugby truly is a fans game - their unwavering loyalty and passion is remarkable.

“Around the grounds of the Aviva Premiership you will hear fans bantering that they are the loudest and the most passionate in the league.

“Our project with the University of Bath will go some way to settling the debate, although I’m sure the dispute on the terraces won’t stop there! Aviva want to get fans as close to the action as possible, and this experiment does just that.”

Those fans lucky enough to be selected for the trial will be asked to feature on BBC Look North where they will be interviewed at Kingston Park by reporter Dawn Thewlis.

They will also feature on Falcons TV.

Tickets are available for the Sale game by calling the Falcons Ticket Hotline on 0871 226 6060 or click here to purchase online.