American football team Highland Stags moving to Inverness after deal with Highland Rugby Club
Highland Stags have announced that they will be leaving Invergordon and moving to Inverness for the 2023 season.
The club confirmed they have agreed a partnership with Highland Rugby Club to move to Canal Park in Inverness.
The British American Football Association NFC 2 champions are moving to Inverness from the Naval Grounds in Invergordon where they were based for seven years.
The club have also announced that they will continue to train at Merkinch Nature Reserve.
Highland Stags spokesman Ben Senior said the move will benefit the club as they look forward to the future.
He said: "The Highland Rugby Club have been a trailblazing organisation, really setting the benchmark for how teams should continue to develop from grass roots right up to first team players.
"We at the Highland Stags are delighted to form a partnership with Highland Rugby
"To make use of their first class facilities to further strengthen our position continue to evolve as we head into the first division of British American Football and solidify Canal Park as the home of collision sports in the Highlands."
Highland Rugby Club president Graham Findlater says it is a significant move for Canal Park as a facility which can be used as a multi sport venue.
He said: “It has been a long-held ambition of mine, that the facilities at Canal Parks are made available to be used by other sports.
"I am therefore delighted that the Stags will be playing their home games at the club.
"I am sure that they will play a big part off the field as well as there being an opportunity for a crossover of players, as the Stags play in the rugby off season."
Last season, Highland Stags were crowned BAFA NFC Division Two North champions and reached the Division Two Britbowl Final when they were narrowly beaten by Bristol Apache 17-7.
