Brought into use 101 years ago in March 1925, what is now known as Scottish Gas Murrayfield is Scotland's largest stadium and the fifth-largest in the UK.
Rebuilt in 1994, it seats 67,130 fans - and when the pitch is set out for concerts that number expands to over 72,000. David Bowie was the first artist to play Murrayfield, back in 1983.
The location is highly accessible with its own tramstop, Haymarket Station a comfortable walk away and the A8 nearby for frequent buses including the Airlink service to Edinburgh Airport. Other sports can be found nearby including ice-skating, curling and cricket.
The rugby season comprises the autumn tests and in the early months of the year the Six Nations. When the season is over, the pitch is killed and boards put down for any summer events including this year concerts by Zach Bryan, Luke Combs and Bon Jovi.
Unlike in England, everything related to national rugby north of the border belongs to the Murrayfield-based Scottish Rugby Union, including the professional teams Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Wanderers. Founded in 1993, the national women's team plays primarily at Hive Stadium on Murrayfield's back pitches, because its capacity is more in keeping with the typical turnout, albeit the women's international against England this April will take place in the main stadium bowl with more than 20,000 tickets already sold.
Rugby may be an old game, traditionally strong among families notably of farming stock, but Scottish Rugby staff are predominantly young, with more women than men. The commercial department is the biggest earner, from sponsors such as Arnold Clark, Vodafone, Macron and of course Scottish Gas, for SRU are not-for-profit and any takings go back into the game.
The Calcutta Cup dating from 1879 is proudly on show, having been won by Scotland in this year's annual contest with England, and other displays include a celebration of Doddie Weir in whose name a trust, "My Name'5 Doddie", recalling the position in which he played raises funds for research into Motor Neurone Disease.
The press gallery and a bust commemorate Bill McLaren, the "voice of rugby" from 1953 to 2002: a teacher proud of his Borders roots, Bill was famous for quips such as that "a day out of Hawick is a day wasted". In the changing room the seat belongs to the position. No-one is bigger than the team, and the matchday rituals encourage the team spirit. Nearby rolls of honour list the men and women who have so far played for Scotland. An icebath cools muscles after the game.
One hundred volunteers comprising the "blue crew" help look after spectators on match days. The Hive Stadium has been provided for Edinburgh Rugby on the back pitches at Murrayfield.
Preparations for the autumn tests and for the Six Nations start six months in advance, so that even while the national team is playing abroad over the summer the office is busy selling tickets.
The Scottish Region thanks Graham Law for his genial hosting of our visit and for patiently answering our questions.
Report and photographs by John Yellowlees.
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