The Clubhouse, which was launched during the recent Guinness Men’s Six Nations match against England in February, is a gastro sports bar offering an informal pre and post-match hospitality experience.

Guests enter beneath rugby posts at the venue entrance, stepping into a space that celebrates grassroots rugby across Scotland. A welcome feature is the stairway, which is decorated with plaques donated by clubs from across the country, recognising the vital role community rugby plays in the game.

Clubs that donated plaques were entered into a competition to win the opportunity to experience the Clubhouse during the Calcutta Cup. Dalkeith RFC was among the successful clubs.

Club volunteers Susy, Jamie, Sean and Marc said on the experience: “We received the notification through that Scottish Rugby were looking for plaques from clubs to be sent in and we didn’t think twice about sending one of ours.  

“It is just so good to see grassroots rugby represented somewhere so iconic, this place is so historic, it’s the home of Scottish Rugby so of course we would want to have our club represented.

“The clubhouse has turned out brilliantly, the food was amazing, and it was such a nice space to be able to watch all the other matches on that day. It had a really lovely, intimate feeling.

“We’re just so thankful to Scottish Rugby, as with all the things we get to do, being able to share that moment with all the coaches and committee was incredible. Our club has been so fortunate to have been recognised through the Community Recognition Awards over the years, so sending in our plaque was a tiny way for us to give back to Scottish Rugby and for our club to play a part in being here at Scottish Gas Murrayfield”  

Ahead of the match against France on Saturday 7 March, 89 clubs had submitted their plaque, with many more expected to complete the display.

Additional nods to the sport come from the rugby balls that adorn the ceiling and create a warm, intimate setting for diners while serving as a constant reminder of the grassroots game at the heart of the sport.

Looking ahead, the Clubhouse will offer hospitality packages for matches at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, as well as special events such as Super Saturday, where guests can enjoy a full day of rugby, entertainment, exceptional food and access to the Clubhouse bar, alongside insights and conversation with Caroline Blair and Johnnie Beattie.

The Clubhouse is also available to book for private and corporate celebrations and events via The Murrayfield Experience.

The post The ultimate clubhouse appeared first on Scottish Rugby.

Murrayfield’s history began with its inaugural match on 21 March 1925, when Scotland triumphed over England 14-11 to secure their first Grand Slam. Since then, nearly a century later, this iconic venue has hosted over 300 international matches, featuring the greatest names in rugby.

Pierre Schoeman and Darcy Graham during the relaunch of the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium Tour.

Fans have come from all over the world to see international rugby, since that opening game. But rugby isn’t all that Murrayfield is known for. The 67,144 seat stadium has welcomed world-class athletes from various sports and hosted unforgettable performances by music superstars like the Spice Girls, One Direction, Robbie Williams, Beyoncé, Harry Styles, and most recently, Taylor Swift.

Throughout the 90-minute tour visitors discover what makes it one of the most iconic sporting venues in the world. They’ll be taken for an exclusive look around the Bill McLaren Media Gantry as well as the newly recreated study, to see where the Voice of Rugby worked.

They’ll go into the National Teams’ changing room where they can sit in the same seats as their heroes, before walking in their footsteps down the tunnel and into the stadium bowl, to the roar of the crowd. They’ll also get to see the Calcutta Cup, the oldest international rugby trophy in the world, and even have their photo taken with ‘Oor Doddie’!

Linda Lawson, Bill’s daughter, said: “I can’t tell you how delighted we are from the Bill McLaren Foundation, but also from the McLaren family, that Dad’s desk and study have been recreated here. We have enjoyed doing the stadium tour before, and loved it and I think this is a great addition.

“From a families point of view, we realise that Dad’s study was an absolutely guddle. He knew where everything was, we were hardly allowed in. Anyone who comes will see a look of chaos but it was a really important part of his method of working and his preparation for commentary. We are very grateful to Scottish Rugby for putting this on display at Scottish Gas Murrayfield and we hope that everyone who comes will have a bit of a chuckle and find some things of interest.”

Murray Watson, creator of “Bill’s Office” on behalf of the Bill McLaren Foundation, said: “Bill McLaren became one of the most beloved voices in rugby broadcasting. It’s only fitting to share his story with a new generation of rugby fans, as well as those who cherished his commentary from 1952 to 2002. The original exhibition welcomed 5,000 visitors and the wider project has engaged with an additional 1,000 primary school pupils through the online lesson delivered by Inspire Learning at Scottish Borders Council. I’m delighted we can continue this legacy at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.”

Laura Tinch, Lead on the Scottish Rugby Stadium Tours & Heritage Collection, said: “I’m thrilled that our visitors can now step into Bill’s world and experience his unique rugby storytelling through the tour. His legacy already features prominently in our Bill McLaren Media Gantry, but this new addition offers an even deeper insight into why he remains a celebrated name in rugby history. We’re incredibly grateful to the Bill McLaren Foundation for generously loaning us this display.”

Public guided tours will run twice daily, Monday-Thursday, at 11am and at 2pm and three times Friday-Sunday, 11am, 1pm and 2pm. The tour will last approximately 90 minutes.

To book a behind-the-scenes stadium tour or buy vouchers fans can visit Scottishrugby.org/tours. Tours start from £15 adult and £10 under 18.

Top photo caption: Linda Lawson, daughter of Bill McLaren, and husband Alan with tour guide Laura Tinch during the launch of the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium Tour.

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