Myreside Stadium

Myreside Stadium is a sports ground in Edinburgh, Scotland. Often simply known as Myreside, Watsonians RFC have used this venue on the east side of Myreside Road as their home ground for rugby union matches since 1933. Edinburgh Rugby used it for some home matches 1996–2002 an again in 2017 and 2018; this included Pro12, later Pro14 and European Rugby Challenge Cup matches. A main stand is positioned along the west side of the grass pitch, with floodlights around the ground. Ahead of the Edinburgh Rugby team's return to play home matches at the stadium, temporary stands were installed to increase seating capacity to 13,799.

"Myreside" redirects here. For the cricket ground, see Myreside Cricket Ground.

Myreside
Location82 Myreside Road
Edinburgh
EH10 5BZ
Coordinates55.927792°N 3.223548°W / 55.927792; -3.223548
Public transitSlateford railway station
OwnerGeorge Watson's College
Capacity13,799
SurfaceGrass
Opened1933
Tenants
Watsonians (1933–)

Edinburgh Reivers (1999–2002)

History
One of the Myreside turnstile gates in 2007

The ground originally used by Watsonians RFC was called Myreside, which took its name from a local farm. On 4 March 1933, Watsonians played their first match at New Myreside, against Royal High School FP Rugby Club.[1] A West stand was constructed.[2] The Watsonian Cricket Club play at the adjacent Myreside Cricket Ground.

When rugby turned professional, Edinburgh Rugby used the stadium for their home matches 1996 to 1998.[3] That team was succeeded by the Edinburgh Reivers which played at Myreside from 1999–2002.[3][4]

In May 2016, Edinburgh Rugby announced a partnership with the owners of the ground, George Watson's College. The partnership allowed a trial period starting in January 2017 for Edinburgh to return to Myreside for six months, downsizing from Murrayfield Stadium.[3] The pitch has floodlights but the facilities at the ground are ageing.[3] The plans involved increasing the stadium capacity by erecting temporary stands at the North and South ends.[5] Edinburgh City Council approved plans to erect temporary stands in December 2016.[6] The temporary stands were erected as close as possible to the dead-ball lines.[7] The capacity was increased to just above 13,799 seats in time for Edinburgh to play their first game in January 2017.[8]

In July 2017, Edinburgh set out plans that involved playing a minimum of nine home matches at Myreside for the next three seasons, subject to planning permission. Some of their fixtures, including the annual 1872 Cup clash, would be played at Murrayfield.[9]

In February 2018 Edinburgh announced that the remainder of the season's matches would be played at Murrayfield.[10] Within a couple of weeks, the club had confirmed that Myreside would no longer be used as their home venue.[11]

Transport

The ground is near several routes operated by Lothian Buses.[12]

Myreside is a 2-minute cycle from the Canal National Cycle Route 754 which runs through the West of the city.[13]

References
  1. "Rugby. The Anniesland "Derby". High School warm favourites". The Glasgow Herald. 4 March 1933. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  2. "Edinburgh, Myreside Road, George Watson's Rugby Ground". Canmore. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  3. "Edinburgh confirm move from Murrayfield to Myreside". BBC Sport. 10 May 2016.
  4. "Edinburgh to make Myreside home". The Scotsman. 25 July 2001. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  5. Connell, John (2 September 2016). "Concerns raised over Edinburgh Rugby's planned move from Murrayfield to Myreside". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  6. "Temporary stands given go ahead at Myreside". Scrum magazine. 7 December 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  7. "Rugby: Andy Irvine's confident Edinburgh players will come to love Myreside". The National. 17 January 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  8. Lewis, Jane (16 January 2017). "Edinburgh: Myreside 'can be better than Glasgow's Scotstoun' - Andy Irvine". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  9. Smith, Duncan (11 July 2017). "Edinburgh Rugby to play at Myreside for next three seasons". The Scotsman. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  10. Newport, Andy (20 February 2018). "Edinburgh confirm move back to Murrayfield after Myreside switch". The Scotsman. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  11. Mackenzie, Alasdair (2 March 2018). "Edinburgh Rugby confirm that Myreside will no longer be used as club's home ground". The Herald. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  12. "Edinburgh Rugby has a new home. Get to Myreside by bus" (Press release). Lothian Buses. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  13. "The Union and Forth & Clyde Canals". Sustrans. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
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