Murrayfield clash opens door to fans

FANS will be allowed into next Friday’s Pro14 clash between Edinburgh and Glasgow at BT Murrayfield for the first time since the start of lockdown.

Scottish Rugby chiefs have been given the green light to have around 1,000 people — including 700 supporters, operations staff and the two squads — inside the national stadium for the game.

The SRU have created a ‘bio-bubble’ at the 67,144-capacity venue which the Scottish

Government have deemed suitable for trial as they look at ways of safely reintroducing fans back to rugby and football.

Scottish Rugby’s chief operating officer Dominic McKay said: ‘Scottish Rugby is delighted that a limited number of spectators will be in BT Murrayfield on Friday, August 28, to watch the Guinness Pro14 match between Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors.

‘We are pleased our work with the Scottish Government will ensure that players, support staff and fans will be covered by a comprehensive event plan for everyone’s safety including physical distancing requirements.

‘Scottish Rugby would like to thank government ministers and officials who have helped us make this happen, and our own colleagues who pulled together a

robust operational plan for the match. We hope our experience and learnings from a live spectator event next Friday can help all of Scottish sport, and the wider events industry, restart.’ The game will be the second instalment of back-to-back league derbies between Edinburgh and Glasgow, the first of which is being held behind closed doors this evening. Edinburgh and Glasgow head coaches Richard Cockerill and Danny Wilson welcomed the announcement of the trial yesterday. ‘We all want to be playing in front of big crowds, they are the games you are excited about and motivated about,’ said Wilson. ‘Playing at Scotstoun with Glasgow without a crowd, for example, would be very, very different. Every time I have been there as an away coach or watching games on my Scotland remit, the atmosphere is massive and it drives players on — it adds that little bit of extra zip and bounce, and it is that much more intimidating.’ Edinburgh counterpart Cockerill said: ‘As a union, we’ve worked very hard to get to this point, so if we can get some supporters in and make sure it’s safe and viable, hopefully we can build on that and keep growing the support for every game, leading to the (Scotland) Test matches as well.’ Scottish football will be watching next Friday’s trial very closely, with Sportsmail revealing this week the SPFL want to use Celtic’s league game with Motherwell on Sunday, August 30, as their own test event for the return of fans to grounds.