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Edinburgh Rugby to host club’s opening URC fixture against Scarlets

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Tournament organisers today confirmed Edinburgh Rugby will begin their 2021/22 United Rugby Championship campaign against Scarlets at Edinburgh Rugby Stadium (ERS) on Saturday 25 September (kick-off 5.15pm)

The homecoming clash at the ERS will give supporters the opportunity to pack out the new purpose-built stadium in what will be a celebratory fixture to kick-start the new campaign.

The capital club’s supporters can look forward to a run of mouth-watering home fixtures at the ERS with dates and kick-off times confirmed up until Round 10.

The best way to watch Edinburgh Rugby in 2021/22 is by securing a Season Ticket Membership. Don’t miss out on the inaugural season of the United Rugby Championship and join the homecoming at the ERS.

Match tickets for the first three round will go on sale to Castle Club and Founders Club members this Monday (30 August), followed by the general sale one week today (Friday 3 September).

?Head Coach Mike Blair’s squad will face South African giants DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls on back-to-back Saturday evenings in the capital – Saturdays 9 and 16 October, both 5.15pm kick-offs – in the first meetings with the URC newcomers.

A home Friday night clash against Conference rivals Benetton follows on 3 December (kick-off 7.35pm), before supporters can gear up for the annual 1872 Cup derbies that will see Edinburgh Rugby host their west coast rivals in the second-leg of the intercity clash on Sunday 2 January (kick-off 2pm).

The ERS will host home match-ups against Cardiff Rugby (w/o 8 January) and Connacht (w/o 5 March) in early 2022, before the capital side head to South Africa in March to face the Cell C Sharks and Emirates Lions in a two-week tour.

Blair’s side will then close out the regular season in April with back-to-back home fixtures at the ERS against Conference rivals Zebre (w/o 23 April) and Irish foes Ulster (w/o 30 April).

Edinburgh Rugby Head Coach, Mike Blair, said: “First up it’s great that we’re playing a home game to start the United Rugby Championship.

“We’ve got a brand-new stadium, so hopefully we’re going to get a really big, noisy crowd in there to get behind the boys. It’ll be good to start with a home game, against a good opponent like the Scarlets, and try and kick-off the campaign well.

“The prospect of facing the Stormers and Bulls at the ERS on back-to-back weekends is also really exciting for both the club and our supporters.

“It’s two new teams and they’ll bring a different brand of rugby. There’ll be players we don’t know so well, and we’ll have to do our homework on them.

“But to get them back-to-back is brilliant and it’ll be an opportunity for the crowd to see some new players, but also for us to hopefully entertain.

“We’re now really starting to build momentum for the that first home clash. Preparations having been going really well for the new season and we can’t wait to kick-off the URC in our new home with the backing of our supporters.”

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.