Murrayfield could host URC final as Ibrox deemed too small to host decider
If Leinster can't top league-proper, they could be facing a URC final in Edinburgh.
The URC final will be played in Murrayfield if current league leaders Glasgow Warriors qualify for June 15th's decider.
The table-toppers are fancied to make it through the play-offs and reach the final, and have been busy planning for a potential home finale.
They approached Scottish Premiership giants Rangers about potentially using Ibrox for the final. However, it was deemed that the pitch and surrounds of the soccer stadium were too small to host an event of this magnitude.
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URC league leaders Glasgow Warriors approached Glasgow Rangers as they attempted to plan a prospective home final with, most likely, Leinster (June 15).
Warriors then turned to Hampden Park as an alternative but were told the stadium wasn't available as it was being fitted for a concert by US band Foo Fighters on the Monday (June 17).
Celtic Park, where the final was played in 2019, was their third-choice because it was felt too 'attractive' for Irish fans.
But this was rejected by the Warriors as the asking price was deemed too expensive.
Warriors have now indicated to the SRU and URC that, should they reach the final, they will look to Murrayfield to host the match.
The first three approaches were indicative of just how keen the club were to keep a prospective final in Glasgow, says former Warrior and 50-times (2013-20) capped Scotland back-row Ryan Wilson.
"Warriors have done so well to put rugby on the map in Glasgow, a soccer obsessed city, they have grown so much even in the last two, three years," says Ryan.
"It helps when the team are winning, making it to the quarter-finals in Europe, making the final of the Challenge Cup, pushing at the top of the URC.
"The next step is to look at how they develop their ground at Scotstoun and signing Scotland stars - it is difficult but they are getting better."
Right now, Warriors fancy their chances of holding onto their current URC lead - they are four points clear at the moment - ahead of traveling to South Africa for a double-header with Bulls and Lions, finishing with a home game against Zebre.
Second-placed Leinster finish with Ospreys at home, Ulster in Belfast and Connacht at home.
"Home advantage would help Glasgow's chances in a final although there was that game in 2019 at Glasgow Celtic's ground when Dave Rennie was in charge when Leinster came over and did a job on us.
"But strange things can happen in knockout matches, anything can happen.
"While Glasgow beat Leinster in the first game of the season this year and I know it wasn't a full team and there were a few academy boys in there,
"But it would be fitting if they could beat Leinster in the first and last game of the season."
That potential 'last' game of the season would, of course, be the final in Edinburgh.
"The reason why the club wanted the final in Glasgow in 2019 was that we wanted to keep it a Glasgow thing.
"When you go down the M8 it tends to become more of a Scotland thing but it will be Murrayfield this time around if it happens."
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