The second of the re-start games between Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors next Friday will have the first live audience at a major sporting event in Scotland since lockdown, it’s been confirmed.
The match at BT Murrayfield on August 28 will be the first pro rugby game in the UK with fans present since the Covid-19 lockdown came into effect in March. The Scottish Government has approved plans tabled by Scottish Rugby to allow a “limited” number of fans – thought to be around 700 – into the game as a pilot.
Rugby restarts at BT Murrayfield on Saturday evening with the first game between the two pro clubs played behind closed doors, but Scottish Rugby had been pushing a detailed plan to try and bring at least some spectators for the second game.
Scottish Rugby’s Chief Operating Officer, Dominic McKay said: “We are delighted that a limited number of spectators will be in BT Murrayfield on Friday 28th August 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.”
The governing body for rugby in Scotland also entirely own and operate the country’s biggest capacity stadium, and have been keen to put the 67,500 seater facility forward as a suitable site as sport emerges from lockdown for football as well as rugby given the enclosed but spacious nature of the stadium “campus”.
“We hope that our experience and learnings from a live spectator event next Friday can help all of Scottish sport, and the wider events industry restart,” added McKay.
The spectators concerned are likely to be mostly Edinburgh Rugby season ticket holders as the match is designated as a home game for the club, and ticketing information will be released next week.