Premier League giants could make move to Scotland’s Murrayfield stadium

Wednesday, 11 February 2026 at 16:12

byRugby Rucker

United are closing in on a pivotal decision regarding the future of St. James’ Park, with several options under consideration.

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The club's leadership is exploring the potential to expand the current stadium's capacity via two distinct approaches. Meanwhile, the possibility of building an entirely new ground remains on the table.

A verdict is anticipated in the coming months following extensive consultation with stakeholders, including fans. Boosting matchday revenue is crucial for the Magpies to navigate the financial pressures imposed by Profit and Sustainability regulations and Financial Fair Play.

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Expansion vs. Relocation

United have observed how clubs like Tottenham and Arsenal have benefited from modern stadia. However, should expansion of St. James’ Park be the chosen route, there are logistical challenges to consider. One key issue is the potential disruption to matchdays during construction.

Groundsharing has been floated as a temporary solution, though viable candidates are scarce. Suggestions of sharing with rivals Sunderland have surfaced, but this idea has been swiftly dismissed as impractical.

According to CEO David Hopkinson, he believes 'at least 10,000' more seats could be created.

“All of our modelling and all of the capacity starts in the 65-68,000 range," Hopkinson told TalkSPORT.

"I don’t think bigger than that is good but we also want to think if we do something, it’s material and significant.

“10-15,000 in here would be right.”

Groundsharing Alternatives

If Newcastle opt for groundsharing during renovations, Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh could be a contender.

They could look to rent the iconic home of Scottish rugby, with its 67,000-seat capacity, could comfortably accommodate Newcastle's fanbase. Additionally, there are no rivalry concerns.

However, the stadium's distance poses a significant drawback. While Edinburgh is relatively close, the prospect of fans traveling such a distance—especially for midweek fixtures—raises logistical concerns.

Who has the most foreign-born players? 2026 Six Nations

The Six Nations has always been rooted in tradition — but in the modern era, international squads are increasingly shaped by migration, ancestry, and residency eligibility.

In 2026, foreign-born players remain a major part of the championship picture, although the overall numbers have fallen sharply compared to recent years.

Scotland — 14 foreign-born players (35%)

Homegrown: 26/40 (65%)
Foreign-born: 14/40 (35%)

Scotland once again lead the Six Nations for overseas-born representation.

Full list (Scotland)

Nathan McBeth — South Africa (Grandparent)

Pierre Schoeman — South Africa (Residency, 2021)

Ewan Ashman — Canada (Parent)

Elliot Millar Mills — England (Parent)

Josh Bayliss — England (Grandparent)

Jack Dempsey — Australia (Grandparent)

Ben White — England (Grandparent)

Fergus Burke — New Zealand (Grandparent)

Tom Jordan — New Zealand (Residency, 2024)

Rory Hutchinson — England (Grandparent)

Sione Tuipulotu — Australia (Grandparent)

Kyle Rowe — England (Cumulative Residency)

Kyle Steyn — South Africa (Parent)

Duhan van der Merwe — South Africa (Residency, 2020)

Wales — 9 foreign-born players (23.6%)

Homegrown: 29/38 (76.3%)
Foreign-born: 9/38 (23.6%)

Wales sit mid-table, with most foreign-born players coming through English development pathways or overseas heritage.

Full list (Wales)

Tomas Francis — England (Grandparent)

Archie Griffin — Australia (Parent)

Ben Carter — England (Residency, 2004)

Freddie Thomas — England (Grandparent)

Olly Cracknell — England (Grandparent)

Josh MacLeod — Monaco (Residency, 2004)

Gabriel Hamer-Webb — England (Parent)

Ellis Mee — England (Parent)

Blair Murray — New Zealand (Parent)

Italy — 8 foreign-born players (24.2%)

Homegrown: 24/33 (72.7%)
Foreign-born: 8/33 (24.2%)

Italy continue to benefit from a diverse talent pool, drawing on Argentine heritage and residency-qualified backs.

Full list (Italy)

Pablo Dimcheff — Argentina (Grandparent)

Muhamad Hasa — Albania (Residency, 2014)

Martin Page-Relo — France (Grandparent)

Stephen Varney — Wales (Parent)

Juan Ignacio Brex — Argentina (Grandparent)

Paolo Odogwu — England (Parent)

Montana Ioane — Australia (Residency, 2020)

Matt Gallagher — England (Grandparent)

Ireland — 8 foreign-born players (20%)

Homegrown: 34/40 (85%)
Foreign-born: 8/40 (20%)

Ireland remain one of the most homegrown squads in the championship, but several key players — especially in the backline — were born abroad.

Full list (Ireland)

Jeremy Loughman — USA (Parent)

Finlay Bealham — Australia (Grandparent)

Cormac Izuchukwu — England (Parent)

Joe McCarthy — USA (Parent)

Jamison Gibson-Park — New Zealand (Residency, 2019)

Ciarán Frawley — Australia (Parent)

Bundee Aki — New Zealand (Residency, 2017)

James Lowe — New Zealand (Residency, 2020)

France — 7 foreign-born players (15.5%)

Homegrown: 39/45 (86.6%)
Foreign-born: 7/45 (15.5%)

France have one of the strongest domestic player bases, but still include a handful of residency-qualified forwards.

Full list (France)

Dany Priso — Cameroon (Residency, 2008)

Uini Atonio — New Zealand (Residency, 2014)

Tevita Tatafu — Tonga (Residency, 2024)

Joshua Brennan — Ireland (Residency, 2005)

Thibaud Flament — Belgium (Born in France)

Emmanuel Meafou — New Zealand (Residency, 2023)

Tom Staniforth — Australia (Residency, 2025)

England — 6 foreign-born players (16.6%)

Homegrown: 34/36 (94.4%)
Foreign-born: 6/36 (16.6%)

England have the most domestically produced squad in the tournament, with only a small group born outside the country.

Full list (England)

Bevan Rodd — Scotland (Parent)

Emmanuel Iyogun — Spain (Residency)

Sam Underhill — USA (Parent)

Marcus Smith — Philippines (Parent)

Henry Arundell — Dhekelia (Parent)

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso — Wales (Grandparent)

Ranking: Most foreign-born players (2026)

Scotland — 14
Wales — 9
Italy — 8
Ireland — 8
France — 7
England — 6

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