Venue Switch For Club International
Steam rising up from a scrum during the Ireland Club team's encounter with their Scottish counterparts at Netherdale in 2015 ©INPHO/Ian MacNicol
Friday’s match between the Ireland Club XV and Scotland Clubs has been switched to Netherdale in Galashiels, the home of Gala Rugby.
The game was originally fixed for Myreside Stadium, but the Edinburgh venue is unplayable due to freezing conditions.
The kick-off time on Friday will also be brought forward to 3.30pm and form one part of a double-header with the Under-20 Six Nations Championship meeting of Scotland and Italy.
Ireland Club XV head coach Morgan Lennon said: “Our last Club International was played at Netherdale so this is a familiar venue for us. We’d been monitoring the situation and it’s just a case that the conditions aren’t going to improve in time for the pitch to thaw out.
“We’ll prepare for this like we would any other game. Bringing the game forward will also give it the feel of an AIL Saturday kick-off for our guys.”
The sides have met three times previously at Netherdale, the last of which was a 35-26 win for Scotland Clubs in 2018. Ireland’s only victory in Scotland was a 32-20 win 2011 at the same venue.
The Ireland Captain’s Run today will now take place at the Oriam indoor pitch, the largest of its kind in Europe.