Exclusive: Edinburgh Rugby chief discusses stadium expansion, private investment and the club's watershed moment

Edinburgh Rugby could never be accused of rushing the decision to put down roots on a permanent home but they got there eventually and a little slice of history will be created on Saturday evening when the team plays in front of a capacity crowd for the first time at the DAM Health Stadium.

All 7,774 tickets have been sold for the match with Ulster as both sides seek a top-eight finish in the United Rugby Championship which would secure a place in the end of season play-offs.

Edinburgh have played in front of far bigger crowds at BT Murrayfield but these tended to be one-off occasions such as big European games or festive 1872 Cup clashes with Glasgow.

The significance of Saturday’s sell-out is that it is something the club have been building towards since taking up residency at their new home at the start of the season.

They have played ten competitive matches at the DAM Health and are yet to lose. The brand of rugby played under new coach Mike Blair has been open and exciting and the match-day experience has been an enjoyable one.

For Douglas Struth, the club’s managing director, it feels like vindication. So encouraged is he by the rapid buy-in from the Edinburgh supporters that there are already discussions about expanding the stadium’s capacity.

“It’s a real watershed for the club, a real landmark moment,” said Struth. “It’s only seven or eight months since we had our first game here against Newcastle which opened the place. To be able to say it’s a sell-out in such a short period is down to a huge amount of work and I’m hugely proud of what we’ve done as a club to make that happen.”

If there is a slightly impermanent feel to the four compact stands at the £5.7million ground, it at least allows a degree of