Harlequins have hit out at fans who sold their tickets to Munster supporters for Sunday’s demoralising Heineken Cup quarter final defeat.

In a statement on their website, the club said they were disappointed such a big proportion of the crowd were “obviously not Harlequins’ supporters”.

They went on to accuse supporters and season ticket holders, who were given priority for tickets to the European fixture, of selling them on to Munster fans.

But Quins fans hit back and said their regular season ticket seats, many with the best views in the house, were given to corporations, leaving them to buy a seat elsewhere in the stadium.

One rugby fan tweeted: “Only got themselves to blame. Shafted ST (season ticket) holders for corporate numpties and nonST fans didn’t even get a chance to buy.”

Cabbage Patch staff Jimmy Deane, 26, and Matt Denny, 28, said the pub was packed with Munster fans on the day.

Both said they would not sell tickets on to rival fans, and said there was big demand for a seat at the game.

Mr Deane said: “No way, if we got tickets we would want to go. People here who wanted tickets couldn’t get them, as a result of so many being allocated.”

Asked if there was a solution, he said: “Put names on tickets, though it’s hard to stop it. Or more Quins workers outside the stadium.”

The club hosted a record crowd at the Stoop, with 15,000 through the turnstiles on April 7.

A Harlequins spokesman said: “Given the controlled manner that tickets were made available for the match, it is clear to the club that many of its ‘supporters’ sold their tickets on to opposition fans. To say that this is disappointing for the players, coaches, management and staff of the club is an understatement. The club is determined to identify any person that sold on his or her ticket and will ensure that last Sunday’s outcome is not repeated.

“Tickets did not go on sale to the public and instead Harlequins season ticket holders and members were given priority access to the 8,520 tickets that were available for them. All of these tickets were rapidly taken up within the restricted times they were on sale.”

Munster fans bought their 25 per cent of allocated seats and a further 750 were then allocated to organisers, ERC and its sponsors. A few tickets were returned and sold to the club's season ticket holders.

The club were aware tickets were being sold online, including on eBay, in the weeks leading up to the match and tried to identify the source of the tickets and cancel them.

Yesterday the club announced a new membership scheme to replace the existing season ticket holder programme, but further details are to follow.