Glasgow Warriors' artificial pitch gets the go ahead

The Scotstoun pitch was badly affected by rain last season

Glasgow City Council approved plans yesterday that will see a synthetic playing surface installed and improvements to the existing athletics facilities.

The project will be jointly funded by the Council, Scottish Rugby/Glasgow Warriors and sportscotland and it is hoped that work will start later this month with completion expected ahead of the new rugby season.

The Scotstoun pitch was unplayable for a large portion of the season just past after heavy rain left it waterlogged, forcing the Warriors to play a couple of home games at Kilmarnock FC’s Rugby Park and switch their home 1872 Cup leg to BT Murrayfield.

Alongside the new pitch work will also go ahead on improved athletics facilities, with a new event standard throws area and improvements to the outdoor running track.

Glasgow Warriors managing director Nathan Bombrys said: “A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes over the last few months, culminating in today’s announcement and this is fantastic news for everyone who uses the stadium.

“From next season we’ll have an excellent surface all year round, to play the exciting brand of rugby we enjoy.

“It will also provide us with exciting opportunities, which will help us grow the club and the game in the west of Scotland.

“We have visited a number of clubs who have similar surfaces, which they either play or train on and we believe an artificial surface is the best solution for Scotstoun Stadium.

“We’d like to thank Scottish Rugby, Glasgow City Council and sportscotland for funding this project.”