The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Boost for Varsity rugby matches as Murrayfield announced as venue –
The growing status of one of the biggest dates in the student sport calendar in Scotland was confirmed at BT Murrayfield yesterday.
Details of the 2017 men’s and women’s Royal Bank of Scotland Scottish Varsity matches between the universities of St Andrews and Edinburgh – which will be played on the international pitch at BT Murrayfield on Saturday September 23 – were announced.
Edinburgh University revealed that the 66-times-capped Scotland back-row forward and British Lion Simon Taylor was joining their coaching team, while St Andrews announced that Scotland sevens cap and Scotland club international forward Rory McKay was enlisting with their coaches.
Taylor, a law graduate from Edinburgh University, said: “The profile of university rugby is very much on the rise and students have a big contribution to make to the game in Scotland.
“There’s always been strong competition between Edinburgh and St Andrews and I look forward to working with the coaching team and players for what I am sure will be a special occasion.”
McKay said: “There is a heightened profile to student rugby and the Scottish Varsity match is the apex of the student game in Scotland.
“Both St Andrews and Edinburgh are setting the benchmark with their performance rugby programmes and I actively sought out to join the coaching team at St Andrews to be part of that environment.
“I cannot wait for the game and helping the team to prepare to play at BT Murrayfield in front of a huge crowd.”
Director of rugby at St Andrews, David Ross, who has also spent the last few months developing his coaching expertise with trips to New Zealand and South Africa, said: “My trips to the southern hemisphere allowed me to gauge where our varsity match stands in world student rugby and there is no doubt that it is right up there among the very best.”
Tickets cost £5 for students and under-18s and £10 for adults. They can be bought online at www.scottishrugby. org/how-buy-tickets or in person from the Scottish Rugby Ticket Centre at BT Murrayfield.