RBS Finals Day will be hosted at a different venue this year so that work can start on the new hybrid grass pitch at Murrayfield as soon as possible.

Last month Scottish Rugby announced that the new pitch would be installed this spring so that it can be ready for the start of the 2014-2015 campaign.

Significant investment is being made in the new pitch after the problems of a parasitic infestation and winter weather that have affected the surface this season.

Scottish Rugby’s Director of Rugby Operations, Colin Thomson, said: “RBS Finals Day is always one of the highlights of the club season.

“In recent years we have attracted a crowd of, an average, about 5,500, and in considering where we stage the final we wanted to ensure that we could accommodate such spectator numbers comfortably and also provide the teams and their committees and our sponsor with good facilities.

“It’s important that with four matches on the day – the RBS Bowl, Shield and Cup Finals and the RBS Women’s Cup Final – that the playing surface is robust.

“With the support of North Lanarkshire Leisure we can confirm today that Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld will host the 2014 RBS Finals Day.”

Jim Logue, Chairman of North Lanarkshire Leisure, explained: “This is a real coup for Broadwood securing a national rugby event and I hope that many rugby fans and local people will come along and savour the atmosphere.

“Our goal is to establish Broadwood as a multi-sports hub of national significance, which can accommodate a broad range of sport, leisure, health and fitness activities.

“Work started recently on a new national BMX track next to the stadium and we are well down the road towards developing tennis facilities, both of which will complement our existing activities, such as football, gymnastics and fitness.”

The stadium, which has an IRB compliant artificial pitch, has already hosted matches involving Cumbernauld RFC and is the regular home to Clyde FC, who play in Scottish League 2. It has a capacity of around 8,000.

Scottish Rugby's President, Donald Macleod, said: “We have consulted closely with the Scottish Rugby Council in making this decision and look forward to working with North Lanarkshire Leisure and the staff at Broadwood to ensure we have a great day for the teams and their supporters.”

RBS Finals Day takes place on Saturday 19 April. Semi-finals in the RBS Cup will take place on Saturday 29 March and will see Gala host Glasgow Hawks and Aberdeen Grammar welcome Heriot’s to Rubislaw.

Admission charges will once again be frozen for the final with tickets on sale at £10 for adults and £5 for concessions. Clubs retain the proceeds of all tickets they sell for RBS finals day.

This article was posted on 6-Mar-2014, 12:55 by Hugh Barrow.