Scottish Rugby’s oldest rivalry takes centre stage again today as Edinburgh host Glasgow Warriors at Scottish Gas Murrayfield in the opening leg of the 1872 Cup. A crowd of more than 30,000 is expected for one of the most anticipated fixtures of the festive period, with kick-off set for 3:00pm GMT. The atmosphere will be suitably electric, with both sides arriving at different points in their season but equally aware that momentum in the URC and pride in Scotland’s fiercest derby are on the line. Edinburgh enter the match with a settled but ambitious side, naming Wes Goosen at full-back alongside the dangerous wing pairing of Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe. Matt Currie and James Lang form the midfield, while Cammy Scott and Ben Vellacott take charge of the half-backs. Up front, Edinburgh field Pierre Schoeman, Harri Morris and Paul Hill in the front row, with Glen Young and Grant Gilchrist locking behind them. Liam McConnell, Dylan Richardson and captain Magnus Bradbury complete a back row that will be central to matching Glasgow’s physicality. Edinburgh’s bench options include Jerry Blyth-Lafferty, Boan Venter, Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, Callum Hunter-Hill, Freddy Douglas, Charlie Shiel, Ross Thompson and Jack Brown.
Glasgow come to Murrayfield full of confidence after an impressive run of performances across the URC and Europe. Their squad has not been fully announced ahead of kick-off, but the major headline is captain Kyle Steyn making his 100th appearance for the club – an emotional milestone that adds a layer of significance to this derby. With Glasgow’s trademark tempo, breakdown pressure and bench impact all likely to feature heavily, Edinburgh’s task is clear: match the physical confrontations, deny Glasgow quick ball and control territory in a stadium that suits a more expansive approach. The battle between both back rows, the kicking duel between the half-backs and the accuracy of each side’s discipline will be decisive factors in a fixture where small details often turn into major swings.
As always with the 1872 Cup, emotion is as much a part of the script as tactics. The rivalry rarely follows logic, and Murrayfield has a habit of flipping momentum when least expected. Edinburgh will rely on home advantage and their strong forward pack to set a tone early, while Glasgow will look to silence the crowd through fast ruck speed and sharp handling. With pride, points and early control of the Cup on the line, today’s match promises all the trademark intensity, physicality and unpredictability that make this derby one of the great fixtures of the Scottish rugby calendar. Whatever unfolds, another memorable chapter in this historic rivalry is about to be written.