Glasgow Warriors quit Firhill to set up battle ground at Scotstoun

GLASGOW Warriors have served notice that they will quit Firhill, and will play their home matches at Scotstoun next season.

As revealed in our sister newspaper Scotland on Sunday, Glasgow have decided to decamp from the venue they currently rent from Partick Thistle to the west end of the city at Scotstoun, which currently acts as the club’s training base

Glasgow Warriors chief executive Kenny Baillie said: “The move to Scotstoun Stadium represents a fantastic opportunity for Glasgow Warriors and we’re delighted to be able to confirm this news.

“First and foremost, on behalf of Glasgow Warriors and Scottish Rugby, I’d like to thank Partick Thistle for the excellent working relationship we have enjoyed with them since 2007. We look forward to seeing out the rest of this season at Firhill, before progressing to the next exciting chapter in the Glasgow Warriors story.

“It will be a hugely positive step for the club to have a combined training and playing base. It will allow us to foster a real sense of belonging and identity and assist our efforts to further embed ourselves into the local community and become a focal point for rugby in Glasgow and the west of Scotland.

“We look forward to working with supporters and our other stakeholders to drive the process of delivering significant benefit for them all from the move. All steps are being taken to ensure Glasgow Warriors have the best possible playing and supporter facilities at the new venue.”

Ian McLauchlan, president of Scottish Rugby, enthused: “Scotstoun Stadium will be a fitting home for Glasgow Warriors and provide a real rugby hub for the city. A lot of hard work has gone into bringing about this move, and I’d like to put on record our thanks to Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Life for their willingness and enthusiasm to make it happen.”

Partick Thistle chairman David Beattie said: “We are disappointed with the decision but understand the Warriors’ wish to base their operation entirely at Scotstoun. It’s been a delight to have them here at Firhill and we wish them all the very best for the future.”

Meanwhile, almost exactly two years to the day since they emerged victorious on their first visit to the Cardiff City Stadium, Glasgow will seek another big away day success when they play the Blues in the RaboDirect PRO12 this evening.

One of the Glasgow try scorers that day, Johnnie Beattie, will make his first start of the season, having had a 22-minute run-out off the bench against Treviso last week. Beattie replaces Ryan Wilson at No 8 in one of nine changes made by Lineen for the trip to South Wales.

Cardiff: Chris Czekaj. Alex Cuthbert, Casey Laulala, Gavin Evans, Tom James, Ceri Sweeney, Lewis Jones, Xavier Rush , Maama Molitika, Michael Paterson, Deiniol Jones, Paul Tito, Scott Andrews, Rhys Williams, Sam Hobbs. Subs: Ieuan Davies, Nathan Trevett, Ryan Harford,James Down, Thomas Young, Richie Rees , Gareth Davies, Dafydd Hewitt

Glasgow: Stuart Hogg, Tommy Seymour, Rob Dewey, Troy Nathan, Colin Shaw, Duncan Weir, Colin Gregor; Gordon Reid, Finlay Gillies, Mike Cusack, Rob Verbakel, Tom Ryder, James Eddie, Rob Harley (capt), Johnnie Beattie. Subs: P MacArthur, Ryan Grant, Ed Kalman, Rory Pitman, Ryan Wilson, Henry Pyrgos, Alex Dunbar, Peter Horne.