AT THE SHARP END OF WELSH RUGBY
DENNIS GETHIN: SPORT
NEXT season’s Guinness PRO14 final at Celtic Park, Glasgow will take place on the same day as the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park, just three miles away.
It throws up a potential logistical nightmare on Saturday, May 25, for the Glasgow police and travel companies with the prospect of close on 113,000 rugby and football fans in the city at the same time, along with many without tickets.
And a doomsday scenario would see a Celtic-Rangers Scottish Cup showdown plus a Guinness PRO14 final involving the likes of Irish giants Leinster and Munster, where full houses would be guaranteed at both venues.
Munster’s fans are also renowned for flooding into the host city on finals weekend, just to soak up the atmosphere.
After two successive PRO14 finals at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, the PRO14 showpiece returns to Scotland for the first time since 2016.
PRO14 chief executive Martin Anayi said: “The bid put forward by Scottish Rugby, Celtic FC and the City of Glasgow was compelling from the very beginning and we’re certain that fans across the Guinness PRO14 will share in our excitement.
“Glasgow has so much to offer in terms of hospitality, culture and heritage and like our previous finals in Dublin, Edinburgh and Belfast we can offer fans so much more than just a rugby experience.
“In the past number of seasons we have made many bold decisions which have transformed the Guinness PRO14 for the better and the choice of Celtic Park as the venue for the 2019 final is yet another signal of our ambition to provide the best club rugby tournament possible for our clubs and our fans.”
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell added: “We are very proud that the Guinness PRO14 final is coming to Celtic Park for what we’re sure will be a fabulous occasion for the city of Glasgow, rugby supporters and for Celtic.
“Celtic Park is a world-class venue and our success of hosting events in the 2014 Commonwealth Games and on Champions League nights where we have welcomed some of the biggest names in world football, proves that the stadium can produce unforgettable experiences time after time.”
The clash of dates has already sparked plenty of social media debate with fans voicing concerns over the possibility of an Old Firm derby in the Scottish Cup final alongside the blue riband day for the Guinness PRO14.
But Mark Palmer, the Scottish rugby writer for the Sunday Times, is confident the city can cope next May.
He wrote on Twitter: “Really think people are seeing problems that just aren’t there. There’s no way PRO14, SRU and Celtic would get as far as announcing the game without consultation with police. I think it will be a great occasion.
“Last December, Glasgow played Edinburgh on the same day as a Celtic v Rangers match. The previous year, Rangers played Celtic on Hogmanay. The city does not grind to a halt because of a football match.
But in terms of the event itself, PRO14 final will not significantly add to policing requirements that will already have been factored in. As we all know, hosting one major football match and one major rugby isn’t the same as two football.”