Inter-city derbies spearhead rugby’s return
SCOTTISH rugby is set for an explosive return to action with two behindclosed-doors derbies between fierce rivals Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors at BT Murrayfield. The Pro14 double header, which will be televised live by Premier Sports, will be held over the last two weekends in August provided the
Scottish Government say it is safe to do so. SRU chiefs have recommended playing both fixtures at the one venue as it will be easier to manage both sets of players and observe the necessary protocols after the coronavirus lockdown has eased.
Players from Edinburgh and Glasgow will train separately — one team on the back pitches, the other on the main pitch — in the weeks leading up to the games. Scotstoun-based Warriors, who brought forward new head coach
Danny Wilson’s starting date by a month so he could prepare for the fixtures, have agreed to forfeit home advantage. Pro14 chiefs are looking to stage derby fixtures in Italy, Wales, Ireland and South Africa on the same weekends. These will be the last two rounds of the regulation season and will count towards league points. The remaining six matches will be cancelled and regarded as no-scoring draws. Dates and venues for the play-off semi-finals and final are still to be confirmed, although it is expected they will be held in the first two weekends of September. The Edinburgh-Glasgow games will be vital in terms of qualification.
Richard Cockerill’s capital side are looking good to make the last four as they currently top Conference B with 47 points after 13 games, two points clear of second-placed Munster. With Scarlets ten points behind them in third place, just a losing bonus point in either of their two games with Glasgow will be enough to take Edinburgh into the semi-finals.
Glasgow have a much tougher task as they are third after 13 games in Conference A with 34 points — a massive 27 behind leaders Leinster. Their only hope is that second-placed Ulster, who have 41 points, lose their last two fixtures and the Warriors win both of theirs against Edinburgh with at least one try-scoring bonus point.