Shoguns decide to stage game at Ashton Gate

Memorial no more?
By Duncan Wood
January 9 2003

It's been threatened before. Now, it's a reality. Bristol will stage their home league game against Bath at Ashton Gate. Is the first step on a path that will lead to rugby leaving the Memorial Stadium for good?

This may well be the first move out of the Memorial Stadium for the Bristol Shoguns.

It will evoke mixed feelings. There will be those who bemoan the possible move away from what is regarded as the traditional home of Bristol rugby.

Then there will be those who will applaud the decision to look forward and end a relationship with Bristol Rovers that can only be described as lukewarm in recent seasons and that's being kind!

The game against Bath will be a big occasion, it always is and it will be fascinating to see what type of crowd will be attracted to Ashton Gate.

Who is to say that Ashton Gate won't become a permanent home for the Shoguns? It is something that has been debated at length recently on the messageboard and Malcolm Pearce has hinted at it on several occasions in recent seasons.

Rugby in a football stadium can work given the right relationship. Irish are thriving at the Madejski and Saracens seem comfortable at Vicarage Road. Wasps have only just got their feet under the table at Wycombe and the Sharks are reputed to be considering moving away from Heywood Road.

Ashton Gate has staged several high profile rugby matches in recent years - an England Premiership XV vs the All Blacks, Tonga vs the All Blacks in RWC 1999 and England A vs Wales A last season.

It is the finest stadium in the region and there wouldn't be the baggage that comes with the relationship with Rovers. It would be a whole new area to market to.

It's worth a try...(pardon the pun!)