Rugby returns to Aberdeen as Pittodrie hosts Scotland's Autumn Test against Samoa

By Sportsmail Reporter
Updated: 07:30 EST, 3 August 2010

International rugby will return to Aberdeen in November when Scotland face Samoa at Pittodrie.

The Scottish Rugby Union announced that the national team's final autumn Test would take place at Aberdeen Football Club's stadium on Saturday, November 27.

Andy Robinson's men first take on New Zealand at Murrayfield on November 13 before facing South Africa at the same venue seven days later.

Local hero: Cusiter (centre) with coach Robinson and Aberdeen Lord Provost Peter Stephen at the Autum Test launch at Pittodrie

Local hero: Cusiter (centre) with coach Robinson (left) and Aberdeen Lord Provost Peter Stephen at the Autum Test launch at Pittodrie

The plans to play at Pittodrie were welcomed by Scotland's joint-captain Chris Cusiter, who was born and raised in Aberdeen.

The scrum-half missed Scotland's first match at Pittodrie, the historic win over the Barbarians in 2005, because he was on Lions duty.

And he was recovering from injury at the time of the only other contest in Aberdeen, a victory over Canada amid snow storms in 2008.

Cusiter said: 'It's wonderful news and I'm hoping to get on the park myself this time.

'One of the best things about taking international rugby to the North East is the interest in the game that being there generates.

'I know from speaking to people who help coach youngsters in the area that they saw a surge of interest and growth in participation when Scotland were here before, and that has to be our aim this time too.'

Different ball game: The Dons' home will welcome rugby fans through the gates

Different ball game: The Dons' home will welcome rugby fans through the gates

Scotland will return to home action on the back of their best away run for decades, following their Six Nations victory against Ireland in Dublin with a 2-0 Test series triumph in Argentina.

The success against the Pumas was the first time Scotland had won a Test series in the southern hemisphere and Robinson has urged his players to create more history in November.

Robinson said: 'What better opposition for us to open our new campaign than New Zealand.

'They've been playing some exhilarating rugby this summer, especially in the Tri-Nations games against South Africa and Australia, and it's well-documented that Scotland have never beaten New Zealand.

'Yet we made history in the summer in Argentina and our next focus is to continue to improve and that starts with our opening game in the autumn against New Zealand.'