Glasgow and Edinburgh: Ongoing Banter Thread XII - Twelve Monkeys

by A Simply Mesmeric Try Thu 21 Apr 2016, 13:03

First topic message reminder :

A Brief History of Time-Wasting
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1872 Champions

Edinburgh's Fixtures & Results (click to show):

Glasgow
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1872 Runners-up

Glasgow Warrior's Fixtures & Results (click to show):

Ladies and Gents, Girls and Boys, it's season finale!

Guinness PRO12 Play Offs
Fri 20 May 19:45 - Semi Final
Leinster Rugby 30 - 18 Ulster Rugby - RDS Arena 19,100

Sat 21 May 18:30 - Semi Final
Connacht Rugby 16 - 11 Glasgow Warriors - Galway Sportsground 7,800

Sat 28 May 17:30 - Grand Final
Leinster Rugby 10 - 20 Connacht Rugby - BT Murrayfield - 34,550

Cinderella story or what?! Congrats to the Galway posse who were the form team of the season!

by **BigGee** Thu 05 May 2016, 10:07

EST wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:Edinburgh has been a bit of a graveyard for standoffs and wingers.

Doesn't bode well for Weir and Scholes...

Hopefully, with Hodge having a full pre-season with the team, he can persuade Solomons to become slightly more progressive regarding Edinburgh's back play.

Actually having two bona fida stand offs may help as well. Hard to play a decent attacking game without them.

by VinceWLB Thu 05 May 2016, 10:10

MacKnocked-on wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:I think we'd all agree that Solomons needs to revisit his selection policy. He's been a wee bit stuck with tighthead because Nel is comfortably better than the rest, but Sutherland and Dell at loosehead and McInally and Turner at hooker really ought to have featured more. That's a talented quartet and all SQ to boot.

Should have been playing Berghan a lot more, he's looked more than capable of being Nel's understudy any time he's played. In fact I think, if he had got games this season, that Berghan would probably be in the reckoning for the Scotland tour, Solly hasn't done him any favours at all.

If i had been in Berghan shoes, i would have been looking for another club, he has been terribly overlooked and guess what it will be Andress instead of him on saturday.

by **RDW** Thu 05 May 2016, 10:13

VinceWLB wrote:
MacKnocked-on wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:I think we'd all agree that Solomons needs to revisit his selection policy. He's been a wee bit stuck with tighthead because Nel is comfortably better than the rest, but Sutherland and Dell at loosehead and McInally and Turner at hooker really ought to have featured more. That's a talented quartet and all SQ to boot.

Should have been playing Berghan a lot more, he's looked more than capable of being Nel's understudy any time he's played. In fact I think, if he had got games this season, that Berghan would probably be in the reckoning for the Scotland tour, Solly hasn't done him any favours at all.

If i had been in Berghan shoes, i would have been looking for another club, he has been terribly overlooked and guess what it will be Andress instead of him on saturday.

He's maybe been told his time will come this season.

He's up against a converted hooker and an amateur player so if he's not deemed to be better than them then there really is something wrong!

by EST Thu 05 May 2016, 10:15

BigGee wrote:
EST wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:Edinburgh has been a bit of a graveyard for standoffs and wingers.

Doesn't bode well for Weir and Scholes...

Hopefully, with Hodge having a full pre-season with the team, he can persuade Solomons to become slightly more progressive regarding Edinburgh's back play.

Actually having two bona fida stand offs may help as well. Hard to play a decent attacking game without them.

Certainly will BigGee, but there is only Solly to blame for not having one this season.

by **BigGee** Thu 05 May 2016, 10:18

I am sure Berghan's problem is his fitness. At the moment he looks a 20 minute player at best. We know he can scrum, especially against a tiring side, but he could easily become a liability in a longer spell.

The fact that they are keeping him on though, suggests they think that may be fixable.

We have not seen anything of Firth at Glasgow either, which makes you wonder if it is the same problem, the Canadian LH as well.

by EST Thu 05 May 2016, 10:22

Firth looked like somebody they had picked up out of a local Christchurch boozer, not surprised at all that he hasn't featured.

I don't buy the Berghan fitness stuff though, he has been with Edinburgh for what - two or three seasons? He never plays, so you hope in a pro environment that they are working on his fitness throughout the season. I think his situation is just a result of Sollys natural conservatism.

by **RDW** Thu 05 May 2016, 10:23

Berghan has played a lot for Boroughmuir - I don't know how successfully

by **BigGee** Thu 05 May 2016, 10:28

RDW_Scotland wrote:Berghan has played a lot for Boroughmuir - I don't know how successfully

I don't imagine that many LH in the premiership would fancy propping against him!

by EST Thu 05 May 2016, 10:28

RDW_Scotland wrote:Berghan has played a lot for Boroughmuir - I don't know how successfully

Gotya, sorry - I was meaning he hardly ever plays for Edinburgh. If Solly really doesn't think he is fit enough, that is a pretty poor indictment of his own conditioning staff. If your job is to be a professional athlete, there is absolutely no excuse for not being fit enough to play a game.

by **BigGee** Thu 05 May 2016, 10:34

Its a very fine balance with guys that big (he looks way over 20 stone) to get them big and strong enough to be the destructive TH prop and still be able to get around the park.

They just don't seem to have got the balance right with him, it is probably one of the hardest things to do in rugby, which you can see by the fact that there are so few world class THs and why they are worth so much money.

by MacKnocked-on Thu 05 May 2016, 10:36

I notice London Scottish have been signing a few players this week although from other Championship sides and not apparently SQ either. I had hoped that the increased SRU involvement with LS would have meant more SQ players going down from the pro sides to play in the Championship.

by EWT Spoons Thu 05 May 2016, 11:11

VinceWLB wrote:They better be right about Gilchrist and McKenzie injuries status, otherwise the decision to let A. Toolis go will go down as one of the worst in the club's history.

It wasn't Edinburgh's decision to let him go. He was offered a new contract, but he decided against staying. When the contract was offered he wasn't getting a chance to play and for his own career decided to find new pastures. It's a shame because he seems like a decent player.

BigGee wrote:Its a very fine balance with guys that big (he looks way over 20 stone) to get them big and strong enough to be the destructive TH prop and still be able to get around the park.

They just don't seem to have got the balance right with him, it is probably one of the hardest things to do in rugby, which you can see by the fact that there are so few world class THs and why they are worth so much money.

With Berghan, I'm not sure on the fitness point. He's not played more than 20-30 mins for us at a time. That might be due to fitness, but it's really hard to say because he hasn't looked like he's blowing out his a*se at the end of the game. He certainly doesn't seem less fit than most other THs, but until he starts a game it's really just speculation. What Berghan does have potentially against him is that he is tall (6ft 4) and he recognises that for a TH he's quite big.

If it is fitness, then he and the fitness coaches need to sort that out, as there is no excuse for a pro player to not be fit enough.

by **RDW** Thu 05 May 2016, 11:13

EWT Spoons wrote:there is no excuse for a pro player to not be fit enough.

Ahem...

Glasgow and Edinburgh: Ongoing Banter Thread XII - Twelve Monkeys - Page 5 Goode_big_3564047a

by Hazel Sapling Thu 05 May 2016, 11:17

RDW_Scotland wrote:
EWT Spoons wrote:there is no excuse for a pro player to not be fit enough.

Ahem...

"I want my pie to be this diameter"

by EWT Spoons Thu 05 May 2016, 11:17

fair point.

There is no excuse for a 25 year old professional player not to be fit.

Better?

by VinceWLB Thu 05 May 2016, 11:18

Berghan is not taller than Carl Hayman, one of the finest TH you will ever see. Berghan could be the Scottish version of Kieran Brookes who is also rather tall for a tight head. I think he can be an even better scrummager than Nel, game time permitting.

by EWT Spoons Thu 05 May 2016, 11:24

VinceWLB wrote:Berghan is not taller than Carl Hayman, one of the finest TH you will ever see. Berghan could be the Scottish version of Kieran Brookes who is also rather tall for a tight head. I think he can be an even better scrummager than Nel, game time permitting.

Sorry what i meant was that he's tall for the norm. Also if the front row and locks are used to Nel (5ft 11), it's a bit of a change to adapt to Berghan.

I rate Berghan highly and think he's a very good player, my point was only that he's quite tall compared to the norm for a TH prop, and it's something he's called out.

by EWT Spoons Fri 06 May 2016, 10:34

Edinburgh vs Blues match thread

https://www.606v2.com/t63024-pro-12-edinburgh-rugby-vs-cardiff-blues-7th-may#3347288

by **George Carlin** Sat 07 May 2016, 19:37

Right, so not having seen the game tonight - can I surmise correctly by saying that we made a bit of a Horlicks of tonight's match, but we are unlikely to play that badly again and are hopefully also unlikely to be stupid enough to play for half an hour with 14 men?

I would imagine that:
- Puafisi will be nowhere near a Glasgow shirt for the rest of the season
- Russell will get a bollocking from Toonie for not kicking his goals and not analysing the game well
- Pyrgos will be back in the starting seat even if one of his legs is hanging off
- if the weather is going to suck again, Big Tacky will be wheeled out

I am delighted that we've avoided Ulster in the next round, to be honest.

by **RDW** Sun 08 May 2016, 19:47

Rob Robertson from the daily fail is claiming that Edinburgh will play at Myreside for the2nd half of next season.

by EWT Spoons Sun 08 May 2016, 22:30

RDW_Scotland wrote:Rob Robertson from the daily fail is claiming that Edinburgh will play at Myreside for the2nd half of next season.

Aye, apparently with a view to a permanent move the season after

by funnyExiledScot Sun 08 May 2016, 22:57

I understand the move, but I hope they are transparent about it when it comes to season ticket sales. I for one won't be able to make it out there so will need to cancel mine.

by **RDW** Mon 09 May 2016, 07:33

I'm really not convinced by Myreside and I hope they've properly thought this through.

Myreside is in desperate need of refurbishment and really isn't a venue befitting a supposed top class rugby outfit. The changing rooms are pretty sparse and the stand is ancient with old seats.

It would probably only be able house 3.5-4k there and the vast majority of those would be standing on a crumbling terrace.

My major issue though is there is zero scope for development to increase the capacity or the number of seats - the site is locked by a road on one side and houses on the other 3.

So basically we'd be moving to a dated ground that isn't big enough even for our current needs and has zero scope for growing....great move!

Not mention it being a pain in the arse to get there on a Friday night from many parts of Edinburgh!

by EWT Spoons Mon 09 May 2016, 08:58

RDW_Scotland wrote:I'm really not convinced by Myreside and I hope they've properly thought this through.

Myreside is in desperate need of refurbishment and really isn't a venue befitting a supposed top class rugby outfit. The changing rooms are pretty sparse and the stand is ancient with old seats.

It would probably only be able house 3.5-4k there and the vast majority of those would be standing on a crumbling terrace.

My major issue though is there is zero scope for development to increase the capacity or the number of seats - the site is locked by a road on one side and houses on the other 3.

So basically we'd be moving to a dated ground that isn't big enough even for our current needs and has zero scope for growing....great move!

Not mention it being a pain in the arse to get there on a Friday night from many parts of Edinburgh!

There is an article in the courier (not really sure who they are) who seem to think there is going to be some redevelopment going on, hence why it's the 2nd half of the season rather than straight away.

Could be rubbish, but IF what the lad in the article says is true then it sounds like a decent option, other than location obviously.

Steve Scott in the Courier wrote:Edinburgh will leave BT Murrayfield next season – hoping that a more intimate atmosphere at Myreside will finally get the team going forward.

On Tuesday the club are reportedly set to announce that they will move out of the national stadium next January to the ground of George Watson’s College a mile and a half away.

Myreside was the club’s main base as the Edinburgh Reivers in the first year of the Celtic League in 2001-02 before they moved first to Meadowbank and then to Murrayfield.

More details will be made at the announcement, although it’s understood that a full six months are required to bring the ground – which also serves as the home of BT Premiership club Watsonians – up to pro-level standards in terms of facilities.

The move is being described as a six-month trial, but if the investment made on Myreside is as expected, it’s hard to see the club going back to the national stadium, where their average crowd of 3000-4000 among the 67,500 seats makes for a dreadful atmosphere.

There’s no official capacity for the school ground, but it has comfortably accommodated between 5000-8000 in the past.

A change of scene is just one thing Edinburgh are desperately needing. Saturday’s loss to Cardiff Blues meant the capital club finished a lowly ninth in the Guinness PRO12.

Although the club’s officials and players will point out they won more games than in previous years, that they got to the final weekend with a chance of making the top six, and that there is progress in the young players coming through, the fact remains in three seasons under Alan Solomons the team have finished eighth, eighth and now ninth.

Solomons barely hid his fury in the aftermath at the way his team surrendered a 17-7 half-time lead against a Blues side with nothing to play for but pride.

But although a fourth try and victory would have had him pointing out his team could have done all they could on the day – Munster’s defeat of Scarlets erased their slim hopes of sneaking a top six position and automatic European Champions Cup qualification – the problem had emerged long before Saturday.

The club have won just three out of ten since they recorded their two victories over Glasgow in the 1872 Cup over the festive season, when they were actually in a play-off place.

Any progress the club have made – and there’s been some, specifically in giving much more game time to young Scottish talent – has been overshadowed by that poor run.

The building blocks are there – a formidable pack, anchored by the Scotland front row, and a defence that is ranked among the PRO12’s top three.

Duncan Weir and Glenn Bryce’s arrival from Glasgow in the summer will help, as will hopefully a return to form for Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and the continuing development of youngsters like Blair Kinghorn, Jamie Ritchie, Magnus Bradbury and Damien Hoyland.

But the list of eight losing bonus points this season – second most in the league – shows that Edinburgh lose too many close ones while just two try bonuses illustrate how much they need to put more accent on attack.

Edinburgh’s two best backs of recent times – Tim Visser and Matt Scott – have now been allowed to leave. Perhaps their ambitions would have meant they left anyway but losing their regular Scotland places while playing for Edinburgh’s punchless backline may have had something to do with their exits.

On-field leadership also remains an issue. Skipper Mike Coman’s absence in the latter part of the season left the team looking almost rudderless, and stand-in skipper Ross Ford’s late call-off through injury on Saturday had a marked effect.

Solomons is back for at least one more year, and attack coach Duncan Hodge, who only joined the club full-time after the World Cup, will have a full pre-season to work on improving the cutting edge.

The club can reasonably expect the pack and defence to hold up next season. It’s clear, however, that for Edinburgh to truly progress they must start to dominate teams on the scoreboard.

Here's a link to the site, if you really want to check out the same story there - https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/rugby/168806/edinburgh-set-to-move-as-season-ends-in-another-disappointment/

I'll be honest, I've not been to Myerside in a long time, so can't really recall that much about it, but if it can be brought up to scratch then let's see how the trial period goes.

by **RDW** Mon 09 May 2016, 09:05

The Courier is a Fife newspaper - I hear Fife just got internet a couple of years ago so they're obviously making the most of it!

Promising to hear it is being redeveloped but I would be surprised if it was anything more than just a facelift - as I said there's really no room to add extra stands.

I'm dubious about the capacity figures too - Edinburgh played the Ospreys there last season and I think there was a round 3500 people there. There really wasn't that much room for anyone else, certainly not enough to double the crowd!

by EST Mon 09 May 2016, 10:20

Never having been to Myreside, I have no idea what the facilities are like.

It seems that, short of the construction of new purpose built stadium, there are no perfect fits for Edinburgh. What would Edinburgh fans prefer? The better facilities and transport links at Murrayfield, or the better atmosphere but poor bogs at Watson's place?

Also, what ever happened to the Accies re-development - did fEs rally the Stockbridge dissidents to quash that particular development?

by **RDW** Mon 09 May 2016, 10:34

For me the best options in terms of future growth and development would be Heriots’ Goldenacre and Stu Mel’s Inverleith. Goldenacre is in the middle of a busy residential area so would probably struggle to get permission to regularly host large crowds, but Inverleith would be the best bet IMO.

They’ve already got a big stand and room on the other side of the pitch for another one. There’s plenty parking nearby on the big streets around Inverleith park as long as the games were on a Friday night – would be a nightmare if it was a Saturday afternoon though.

Ultimately though the problem is that they’re going to be playing at a venue owned by someone else – it will never be Edinburgh’s ‘home’

by EWT Spoons Mon 09 May 2016, 11:25

I would rather we sorted ourselves out on the pitch first, before we worry about moving stadiums.

Yes MF isn't ideal due to the tiny supporter numbers in comparison to the size of the ground, but if we were winning games and playing rugby people actually wanted to see, there is a good chance we would see our avg attendance increase. I'm not saying we'll ever get close to the 67k MF holds, but if we could get up to 8k for example then it would make a difference.

So whilst it would be nice to have a ground more suited to our numbers, we have bigger fish to fry before we worry about moving stadium, at least in my opinion.

Myerside is easy enough to get to (30 min walk from MF) so not a huge issue from that point of view, but there are probably better options (as RDW alluded to).

by MacKnocked-on Mon 09 May 2016, 11:29

RDW_Scotland wrote:The Courier is a Fife newspaper - I hear Fife just got internet a couple of years ago so they're obviously making the most of it!

Promising to hear it is being redeveloped but I would be surprised if it was anything more than just a facelift - as I said there's really no room to add extra stands.

I'm dubious about the capacity figures too - Edinburgh played the Ospreys there last season and I think there was a round 3500 people there. There really wasn't that much room for anyone else, certainly not enough to double the crowd!

Worse than that, it's a Dundee newpaper.

by **RDW** Mon 09 May 2016, 11:51

EWT Spoons wrote:I would rather we sorted ourselves out on the pitch first, before we worry about moving stadiums.

Yes MF isn't ideal due to the tiny supporter numbers in comparison to the size of the ground, but if we were winning games and playing rugby people actually wanted to see, there is a good chance we would see our avg attendance increase. I'm not saying we'll ever get close to the 67k MF holds, but if we could get up to 8k for example then it would make a difference.

So whilst it would be nice to have a ground more suited to our numbers, we have bigger fish to fry before we worry about moving stadium, at least in my opinion.

Myerside is easy enough to get to (30 min walk from MF) so not a huge issue from that point of view, but there are probably better options (as RDW alluded to).

This.

by EWT Spoons Mon 09 May 2016, 12:14

What form of punishment is he going to undertake for his part in this?

Daily Express via bbc sport wrote:Edinburgh coach Alan Solomons will put his players through two weeks of conditioning training as punishment after they finished the Pro12 season with a disappointing home defeat by Cardiff Blues. (Daily Express, print edition)

by Majestic83 Mon 09 May 2016, 12:16

Definitely don't think Myerside is the best option even if they refurb the ground. Used to go watch Edinburgh when they played there in the early 2000s they would get 3000to 4000 fans in watching but I wouldn't say the atmosphere was that much better than what it is at Murrayfield. It was also pretty tricky to get parked near the ground as well.

I think Inverleith would be a better venue, room to develop some sort of seating opposite the main stand, the facilities there were pretty good from what I remember from when I last played there. As RDW says there is a lot more parking round that area especially on a Friday night and is also in a good location for most people to get to using public transport.
Probably more pubs and restaurants nearby as well for fans to use.

The other option that was spoken about a while back was building a small arena on the back pitches at murrayfield. Wouldn't have to build changing facilities etc and would have access to all the other catering facilities and bars that they do now. All that would really need to be put in place would be seating, whether that be temporary seating like they do at Bath and some other venues or permanent seating.

by EWT Spoons Mon 09 May 2016, 12:20

Majestic83 wrote:
The other option that was spoken about a while back was building a small arena on the back pitches at murrayfield. Wouldn't have to build changing facilities etc and would have access to all the other catering facilities and bars that they do now. All that would really need to be put in place would be seating, whether that be temporary seating like they do at Bath and some other venues or permanent seating.

This would be my preferred option as well. But I have no idea how much that would cost or even if it's physically possible (space, losing pitches to stands etc), but out of all the options the back pitches would make a good degree of sense.

by **RDW** Mon 09 May 2016, 12:21

Majestic83 wrote:The other option that was spoken about a while back was building a small arena on the back pitches at murrayfield. Wouldn't have to build changing facilities etc and would have access to all the other catering facilities and bars that they do now. All that would really need to be put in place would be seating, whether that be temporary seating like they do at Bath and some other venues or permanent seating.

That has always been the best option IMO but also the one with the highest capital costs and practicality issues (the 4G pitch being in the way etc).

It would also mean the SRU would lose at least one of the back pitches (maybe even 2), and there aren't actually that many.

by **RDW** Mon 09 May 2016, 12:21

We've pretty much just said the same thing Spoons!

by EWT Spoons Mon 09 May 2016, 12:23

Great minds RDW

by cakeordeath Mon 09 May 2016, 12:24

RDW_Scotland wrote: Goldenacre is in the middle of a busy residential area so would probably struggle to get permission to regularly host large crowds,

Should be perfect for Edinburgh then Run

by **RDW** Mon 09 May 2016, 12:25

by **George Carlin** Mon 09 May 2016, 12:25

EWT Spoons wrote:What form of punishment is he going to undertake for his part in this?

Daily Express via bbc sport wrote:Edinburgh coach Alan Solomons will put his players through two weeks of conditioning training as punishment after they finished the Pro12 season with a disappointing home defeat by Cardiff Blues. (Daily Express, print edition)

Apparently in about 3 weeks time they will be forced to listen to Toonie talking at length about why winning back to back championships meant so much to him.

by EWT Spoons Mon 09 May 2016, 12:28

George Carlin wrote:
EWT Spoons wrote:What form of punishment is he going to undertake for his part in this?

Daily Express via bbc sport wrote:Edinburgh coach Alan Solomons will put his players through two weeks of conditioning training as punishment after they finished the Pro12 season with a disappointing home defeat by Cardiff Blues. (Daily Express, print edition)
Apparently in about 3 weeks time they will be forced to listen to Toonie talking at length about why winning back to back championships meant so much to him.

I'd be delighted if this was true, they might actually learn something.

by jimbopip Mon 09 May 2016, 18:08

Just to be clear lads....

The Luvvies are better than the Dragons and the Italian sides. picard

May I suggest the following; do a Scotstoun - get a smallish stadium, put your mark on it, belong there (fans and team), develop an identity as a rugby club , improve through hard work and honesty.

On Saturday at half time we saw the MFL run in three tries and after the third some players looked very happy and self satisfied, to collapse in the second half and lose that game was shocking and a betrayal of their fans. Time for a change, a radical change.

by **RDW** Mon 09 May 2016, 18:13

jimbopip wrote:Just to be clear lads....

The Luvvies are better than the Dragons and the Italian sides.

May I suggest the following; do a Scotstoun - get a smallish stadium, put your mark on it, belong there (fans and team), develop an identity as a rugby club , improve through hard work and honesty.

On Saturday at half time we saw the MFL run in three tries and after the third some players looked very happy and self satisfied, to collapse in the second half and lose that game was shocking and a betrayal of their fans. Time for a change, a radical change.

Without trying to put too much gloss on the season, we are miles ahead of the bottom 3 and were only a botched drop goal attempt at home to Munster and a dodgy homer touch judge call down in Scarlets from finishing 6th.

The difference with Scotstoun is it has been a smaller stadium but one where you can grow as the fan base grows - if we moved to Myreside we'd be stuck at a 3-4000 capacity for the long term future.

by funnyExiledScot Tue 10 May 2016, 09:40

jimbopip wrote:Just to be clear lads....

The Luvvies are better than the Dragons and the Italian sides.

May I suggest the following; do a Scotstoun - get a smallish stadium, put your mark on it, belong there (fans and team), develop an identity as a rugby club , improve through hard work and honesty.

On Saturday at half time we saw the MFL run in three tries and after the third some players looked very happy and self satisfied, to collapse in the second half and lose that game was shocking and a betrayal of their fans. Time for a change, a radical change.

A Weegie lecturing Edinburgh folk on the merits of hard work and honesty. I never thought I'd see the day Wink

I actually agree to a point, although I don't actually think the team needs a radical change in personnel. I do think Solomons should step down and an attack-minded coach replace him - one who can use the solid foundations built by Solomons but take the gameplan to the next level (and also one who believes in the merits of squad rotation). We've seen glimpses of what we are capable of this season, but typically when we are chasing the game.

As for the off field stuff, then I do agree that we need a purpose built 10k capacity stadium, close to the heart of the city (or alternatively my house) with good transport links and a large car park. Similarly I think the Republicans should have a sensible candidate to run for President and that Tony Blair should lead the Labour Party once more.

To quote Billy Bob, wish in one hand and sh&t in the other and see which hand fills up first.

by **RDW** Tue 10 May 2016, 13:06

Dear Supporters,

I wanted to write to you directly to let you know about some exciting news for Edinburgh Rugby.

There’s been much debate over the years about where we should play our home matches. While BT Murrayfield is a fantastic facility in lots of ways, we’re all aware its size can be a challenge in creating the matchday atmosphere and experience we want for our supporters.

We want to find a ground where we can build a better club feeling and have been exploring other options in the city over the past six months.

I’m delighted to be able to confirm that we will be moving to Myreside – George Watson’s College and Watsonians ground – on a trial basis, from January of 2017 through to the end of the season, where we’ll be playing all of our Guinness PRO12 and EPCR Challenge Cup matches.

Myreside is a venue that Edinburgh Rugby know well. For over 100 years Edinburgh sides have played occasional matches at the ground, from a meeting v Paris in 1898 to fixtures against international touring teams and, more recently, against Ospreys in the league in February 2015. The ground has a significant rugby heritage in the city and we are really looking forward to going there.

From now until January, we’ll be working hard to enhance the existing facilities there to make it a cracking place to come and watch Edinburgh play.

If this trial period is successful, then we intend to enter into a longer term partnership with George Watson’s College that would see us playing there full time from the beginning of season 2017/18.

The most important thing to emphasise to you, however, is that this letter starts the process of making sure you are right at the heart of this project by inviting you to get involved in the ongoing consultation.

I want to get a real understanding of your views, ideas and concerns, so that they can be properly addressed before we play our first match there.

George Watson’s College are as keen as we are to make this proposal work and enter into a longer-term partnership.

You’ll be hearing regularly from us as we move forward through the next few months filling in all the detail, from ticketing to facilities, behind the project.

Over the next few weeks we will be hosting open sessions where you can come along to BT Murrayfield, ask questions and find out all the information you need. We will send out dates for your diaries in due course, so keep an eye on your inbox.

Personally, I’m really excited by the prospect. I understand it’s a big move, but I’m confident that this is the right thing for the club. Let me know your thoughts as you join us on the journey.

Kind Regards,

Jonny Petrie
Edinburgh Rugby Managing Director

by Nematode Tue 10 May 2016, 13:21

Although Murrayfield doesn't quite have the atmosphere that would be desirable it does have some quite good advantages:

- Never having to worry about not getting a ticket
- Always being able to get seats together with friends
- Always being able to have the option of sitting/standing
- Good transport
- Covered seats

I like the idea of moving to a more personal venue, however, it could do more harm than good. The draw of being able to see what the weather is like and roll up, be guaranteed tickets and get a bunch of seats with friends is going to be hard to beat unless the venue is like Scotstoun I feel.

by **RDW** Tue 10 May 2016, 13:23

Social media response hasn't been so positive do far.

by **BigGee** Tue 10 May 2016, 13:54

Edinburgh just can't seem to win on this one.

Everyone is agreed that Murrayfield is not the right venue, but everyone also has a different opinion as to what the best alternative is.

If there was an obvious alternative, then surely it would have been explored by now! I am not familiar with any of the Edinburgh venues other than Murrayfield, so i have no opinion to offer, other than to say that surely this is worth a punt and the fans should get behind it and give it a go. If it clearly is not working, then they can come back to MF and have a re-think. Something has to change for Edinburgh and this could be a part of the catalyst.

Remember a lot of Glasgow fans were pretty sceptical about the move to Scotstoun and look how that turned out!

by funnyExiledScot Tue 10 May 2016, 13:58

Hopefully they'll offer half season tickets to those of us keen to see the first half of the season. We usually capitulate after then anyway!

by **RDW** Tue 10 May 2016, 14:02

Biggee - you're right in that there's no obvious answer so it should come down to whichever is 'least worst'.

Problem is Myreside has plenty negatives that other venues (such as inverleith and Goldenacre) don't have.

I look forward to seeing more details!

Rumours of 6000 capacity and new temporary stands. Quite where those stands would go I have no idea...

by Hazel Sapling Tue 10 May 2016, 14:14

It seems to depend on details. If the max capacity is 4,000 then this is a bad move. If it is 6,000 and can get to 8,000 on a narrow pitch (that will suit Edinburgh's forwards) rather than the expansive Murrayfield, this could be a good 4-5 year move. Get some more support (money) through the gates, finish further up the table on a pitch that fit's Edinburgh's short-medium term strengths and figure out where to build a 10,000 capacity in a few years time when the SRU are out of debt.

Question is did they nick the temp stands from Glasgow? Is Scotstoun going to expand as it needs to?

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