EDINBURGH Rugby are poised to shatter their crowd record at the start of the new Celtic League programme next weekend – with the help of some evergreen supporters, writes BILL LOTHIAN.
That's the claim today from ex-Scottish cap record holder Scott Hastings, who says the start of the Air New Zealand world golden oldies festival in the Capital on Monday can bring benefits to the professional game. After referring to how his former
Edinburgh outfit kicked off their campaign with a 22-15 friendly win over English champions, London Wasps, Hastings said that is the type of form guaranteed to attract the distinguished visitors.
"With the way Edinburgh are playing and a captive audience of around 3000 golden oldies from 19 countries I can see a record crowd turning up at Murrayfield for the match against Munster on September 5."
Edinburgh's current record is the 6225, who watched a league win over Glasgow last December and there is no doubt a visit from the reigning Heineken European Cup holders will prove attractive to veterans from as far away as American Samoa and the Cook Islands.
Hastings said: "When I heard the number of players had reached around 3000 I was gobsmacked.
"Among them are 17 Scottish entries and the festival will be a tremendous opportunity to get people back to rugby who dropped out for a while. The festival will be part of a healing process which goes back to the start of professionalism (in 1996] when a lot of people walked away.
Meanwhile, the world golden oldies festival kicks off on Monday September 1 until September 8 with matches being played at Roseburn Park and Saughton Park.
"It is important that the feelgood factor restored by Edinburgh's win over Wasps is maintained with a lost generation returning to play a part in different capacities," Hastings explained.
The full article contains 316 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
