Inter-City Rivalry Massive for Kellock

The 1872 Challenge Cup is contested over the two meetings of Glasgow and Edinburgh in the Magners League and is awarded to the team with the best aggregate score over the two legs.

Glasgow-born Alastair Kellock, the Warriors' 6ft 8in captain, is unwavering that although he has played for both teams during his career, his loyalties lie very much in the west of Scotland.

"The thing with professional rugby is you go where you want to go and you go where you're wanted. If you get the opportunity to play for your home team, then it's a little bit more special.

"We've got a good club atmosphere and a good team spirit and part of that is being proud to play for Glasgow."

Despite being sidelined due to injury, Kellock is doing his bit off the field to help steer Glasgow towards a win over Edinburgh next month. When asked if his determination to get that win is diluted having represented the Murrayfield side in the past, Kellock replied: "It gives me more.

"It's up to me and the other boys in the squad that were born and bred in Glasgow to instil what the rivalry means to the others.

"However, it's the Scotland camp is where you see it most because there are only two Scottish teams. There's only Glasgow and Edinburgh in terms of professional clubs in Scotland and the rivalry between the two is big.

"There's huge rivalry amongst the players because at the end of the day, they are our closest neighbours and both teams have been competing against each other for over 130 years."

Looking back on the previous meeting of the two sides back in December, Kellock expressed both his disappointment with the final result, and also his resolve to help his team-mates achieve the win at Firhill.

"It's not the be all and end all to beat Edinburgh but the fact that they beat us at Murrayfield, and the way it happened, certainly means that we need to make sure we get a result at Firhill."

The rivalry between the two clubs extends to the residents of both cities with friendly banter between the two cities very much a Scottish tradition.

Kellock hopes that all those from Glasgow, and those who have adopted it as their home, will get behind their city, as their two rugby team looks to win the bragging rights for another year.

"If you've never been to a game before then there's no better game to come to. If you're not a huge rugby fan, it doesn't matter. If you are from Glasgow then you want your city to do well.

"The rivalry between the two cities is healthy and encourages people to come out and get behind their team.

"When Scotland play England, every single person in the country is interested in the game regardless whether it's rugby or football or whatever.

"If we get people interested in supporting Glasgow Warriors, because they are from Glasgow or they now live in Glasgow, then that's got to be good for us and for getting people to come to Firhill to get behind their city. Not only would it be good for everyone in Glasgow to want us to win, but we need them to come along."

Glasgow Warriors are challenging their supporters to fill the Jackie Husband Stand at Firhill Arena for the game which will determine the destiny of the 1872 Challenge Cup.

The marketing campaign lays the gauntlet down to supporters to help break the Warriors' attendance record for the second time this season - the first being the 5,231 crowd that turned out for the Heineken Cup clash against Saracens in January - and Kellock reinforces the impact of a big crowd at The Arena.

"If we could sell out Firhill, then it would be massive. For me, selling out a place like Firhill would mean the noise from the stands would be awesome.

"The lift that we got when we played Saracens was incredible and we'd love to get an even bigger crowd when Edinburgh come to town."

Tickets for the game are priced at £15 for adults and £5 for concessions and can be purchased by calling the Warriors Ticket Hotline on 0844 800 3490 (9am-5pm, Mon-Fri) or by logging onto glasgowwarriors.org