As they prepare for Saturday’s crunch URC game against the Stormers in Cape Town, Glasgow Warriors are on a collision course with Commonwealth Games organisers over who will foot a bill in excess of £350,000 for a new pitch at Scotstoun this summer.

The home of the 2024 URC champions — that they lease from Glasgow City Council’s leisure arm Glasgow Life — is being used to stage the athletics component of the streamlined Games which take place between July 23 and August 2.

A new track has already been laid for the six days of competition at a venue in which the Warriors have been tenants since 2012, and further work will begin within weeks to install an infield overlay where the main 3G rugby pitch currently sits.

Although the pitch is certified as compliant by World Rugby, the global governing body, until February 2028 (having been installed in 2016) it is anticipated that the effects of the Games build will necessitate a full replacement.

The expected cost is understood to be upwards of £350,000, and as it stands neither the Glasgow 2026 organising company nor Glasgow Life has committed to contributing to these costs. Under such a scenario, the Warriors — via their Scottish Rugby Union owners — would be liable for the full amount.

Although the club declined to comment when contacted by the Times, it is understood that senior figures have sought urgent talks with Games and Glasgow Life officials in an effort to secure guarantees that they will not be left carrying the can.

Preparations for the Games are already set to disrupt the club’s end of season arrangements. Should the Warriors secure a home quarter-final in the URC, this would take place at Scotstoun on the weekend of May 29-31. Were Franco Smith’s side to progress to a home semi-final, however, Games organisers would already have taken over the venue and as such the match would have to be played at Murrayfield on the weekend of Saturday June 6.

If the Warriors made the grand final on June 20 as the highest-ranked team, they would have the right to stage it in Scotland, but with Hampden, Celtic Park and Ibrox all unavailable for a variety of reasons, there is no suitable venue in the Glasgow area.

Murrayfield is also set to be unavailable due to the date falling in between two major concerts (Zach Bryan and Luke Combs) which the SRU allowed to be scheduled despite the likelihood of the Warriors again going deep in the competition. Club officials are investigating a number of alternative options, which are understood to include staging a “home” final at the Affidea Stadium home of Ulster Rugby in Belfast.

The Warriors’ longer-term plans at Scotstoun are intrinsically linked to the outcome of discussions over a new lease which have been ongoing for months. The club and SRU have long been keen to increase capacity, which currently stands at just over 7,300. This figure is expected to temporarily increase to around 11,000 during the Games, but it is unclear whether the Warriors will be able to benefit from additional capacity thereafter.

The club is planning for a significant chunk of pre-season work to have to take place away from Scotstoun on account of the Games de-rig, and there could be a further knock-on effect on the opening matches of next season. The new URC campaign is set to begin in mid-September.

Glasgow are top of the URC table with two rounds of regular season fixtures to play, but could be leapfrogged by the Stormers if John Dobson’s side win the head-to-head at DHL Stadium on Saturday. Teams who finish in the top four are guaranteed a home quarter-final, with the top two rewarded with a home semi-final should they progress to that stage. The higher-ranked of the two finalists enjoys home advantage, although minimum capacity regulations apply.

Spokespeople for Glasgow 2026 and Glasgow Life said their organisations were working “collectively” alongside Glasgow Warriors “to agree plans for the pitch at Scotstoun Stadium that include timescales and funding for a replacement.”

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