Glasgow Warriors have been forced to look outside Scotland for a venue to host the United Rugby Championship final, should they reach that stage, with Belfast’s Affidea Stadium under consideration.
No suitable Scottish venue will be available on 20 June, including their own Scotstoun Stadium. The Warriors currently sit top of the URC table, and a bonus-point victory away to Ulster on Friday would secure first place, guaranteeing home advantage in the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final.
If Glasgow have a home quarter-final, they will play at Scotstoun on 30 May. However, the stadium will then be handed over to Glasgow 2026 for Commonwealth Games preparations, meaning a potential home semi-final on 6 June would be moved to Murrayfield Stadium. But Murrayfield is unavailable for the final due to a series of summer music concerts.
Celtic Park has been used for rugby in the past, but the reigning Scottish champions are re-turfing their pitch at the end of the football season. Meanwhile, the pitch specifications at Rangers’ Ibrox Stadium make it unsuitable for hosting the showpiece event.
The Warriors and the URC have been contacted for comment.
With one round of matches remaining, Glasgow lead the Stormers by one point, while Leinster are a further point behind. On Friday, the Warriors visit eighth-placed Ulster, Stormers travel from South Africa to face seventh-placed Cardiff, and Leinster host 11th-placed Ospreys on Saturday.