Edinburgh: Murrayfield

Capacity: 67,500

RWC Fixtures

September 8: Scotland v Romania

September 23: Scotland v New Zealand


The very first rugby international match was played at Raeburn Place, Edinburgh, on Monday, 27 March 1871, on the cricket field of The Edinburgh Academy.


In fact, the first nine international matches in Scotland were all played on established cricket fields - the second having been played at Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow, the home of West of Scotland CC.


By 1890, the SFU had begun a search for an area of ground with the intention to purchase it for the Union. The search was fraught with difficulties, disappointments and frustrations. People simply did not want an international rugby ground in their locality.


However, Murrayfield was officially opened on a sunny day on 21 March 1925, with England the visitors.


Once the largest capacity for a rugby stadium (104,000 spectators), Murrayfield had to reduce this figure to 67,500 for safety reasons.


And while it's primarily a rugby stadium, Murrayfield has also proved to be a popular venue for a diverse range of other events including pop concerts, American football, Highland games, lacrosse and hockey matches, and even a youth rally to welcome His Holiness The Pope.

Stuart Barnes Column

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