Glasgow Warriors have confirmed they will stage their home leg of this season’s 1872 Cup tie against Edinburgh at Hampden Park.
Warriors will face their Scottish rivals in the first match of the United Rugby Championship festive double-header on Sunday 22 December (15:00 BST), a day later than originally scheduled.
Edinburgh traditionally elect to host their derby matches at Murrayfield rather than their own Hive Stadium.
The national rugby stadium in Edinburgh’s 67,000 capacity offers a far greater scope for attracting more fans, and the December 1872 Cup game between the sides last season in the capital drew a crowd just short of 38,000.
With the capacity at Warriors’ home ground of Scotstoun currently just above 7,000, the URC champions have moved to utilise the 52,000-capacity national football stadium to ensure they too can maximise the commercial opportunities that come with the showpiece fixture in Scottish rugby.
‘Massive moment’ for Warriors
“This is a massive moment in the history of not just our club, but rugby within our city and our Glasgow Warriors community,” said the club’s managing director Al Kellock.
“We’re excited by the opportunity this fixture presents, not only on the field but off it as well. We also hope to welcome a new audience that may otherwise not attend a Glasgow Warriors match, especially in the run-up to the festive holidays.”
Warriors captain Kyle Steyn added: “It’s such an exciting opportunity. To have the chance to run out at an iconic Glasgow venue is extremely special.
“Having our own ‘big game’ concept is an outstanding reflection of the support that this club has year in, year out.”
Warriors have staged matches at football grounds before. The Pro14 final between Glasgow and Leinster in 2019 was held at Celtic Park, attracting a Scottish club record crowd of more than 47,000.