At last, a home that Edinburgh Rugby can call their own

EDINBURGH managing director Jonny Petrie says the club’s ‘nomadic existence’ is almost over after the announcement of plans for a new stadium within the grounds of BT Murrayfield. The capital side have found it difficult to keep up with Glasgow Warriors since they made their successful switch to Scotstoun in 2012, but now believe their move to a purpose-built 7,800 capacity venue on the back pitches at Murrayfield can only enhance the fine work head coach Richard Cockerill has already done with the team. Expected to be completed in time for the 2019-20 season, the ‘mini Murrayfield’ will be a welcome sight for fans who have had to put up with constant changes of venue. This time last year it was announced Edinburgh would play their home games at George Watson’s College’s Myreside ground but, midway through the season, the arrangement was halted and the team returned to the cavernous national stadium. Although Edinburgh will still have to play there next term while their new home is being built, the completion of flood defence works on site at Murrayfield has finally allowed the new stadium to become a viable option. Petrie said: ‘We’ve had a nomadic existence and an underperforming team and we’re now sorting that out. ‘When Richard Cockerill came in, he didn’t particularly find a performance culture and he’s certainly put one in place amongst the players. We want to back him up behind the scenes. ‘This opportunity has opened up and it’s been great to marry up what we’ve been doing on the field with what we’re doing off the field. We want this club to come to life in the best way possible.’ Once the new ground is in operation, however, larger matches like the 1872 Cup and European ties will still likely be moved to the national stadium. Meanwhile, the SRU’s chief operating officer Dominic McKay says there is currently ‘no timescale’ on plans to increase Scotstoun’s capacity from 10,000 to 12,000.