THE deciding match in this season’s 1872 Cup between Glasgow and Edinburgh will take place at Scotstoun on Friday 7 May.
The three-game series is currently tied at one win each, and the decider will double up as a round-two fixture in the Rainbow Cup. The two Scottish sides will meet again eight days later at BT Murrayfield in a straightforward round-three fixture.
The announcement of the dates and kick-off times of all games in the first three rounds of the Cup is the clearest indication yet from PRO14 that the tournament will take place in some shape or other.
Uncertainty still surrounds the feasibility of matches between the four South African teams and the PRO14 sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales, because UK government Covid protocols have apparently prevented the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers from basing themselves as planned in Bristol. But as the initial three rounds are mainly derbies, no such travel restrictions come into play for them.
RAINBOW CUP FIXTURES (all times BST):
Round One:
Fri 23 April: Stormers v Sharks 6pm, Ulster v Connacht 8.15pm, Edinburgh v Zebre 8.15pm.
Sat 24: Benetton v Glasgow 1pm, Bulls v Lions 3pm, Ospreys v Cardiff 5.15pm, Leinster v Munster 7.35pm.
Sun 25: Dragons v Scarlets 1pm.
Round Two:
Fri 30: Sharks v Lions 6pm.
Sat 1 May: Stormers v Bulls 4pm.
Fri 7: Zebre v Benetton 6pm, Munster v Ulster 8.15pm, Glasgow v Edinburgh 8.15pm.
Sat 8: Connacht v Leinster 7.35pm, Scarlets v Ospreys 7.35pm.
Sun 9: Cardiff v Dragons 1pm.
Round Three:
Sat 8: Lions v Stormers 3pm, Bulls v Sharks 5.15pm.
Fri 14: Munster v Connacht 6pm, Leinster v Ulster 8.15pm.
Sat 15: Benetton v Zebre 5.15pm, Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.35pm.
Sun 16: Dragons v Ospreys 1pm.
TBC (Sat 15 or Sun 16): Scarlets v Cardiff.
Round Four: weekend of May 29.
Round Five: weekend of June 5. Round Six: weekend of June 12. Final: weekend of June 19.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here