The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Slick]

I assume all 8 teams are being supported with travel costs? If that's the case the money they're going to spend should have been used to support the best proposal from the remaining 2 Districts.

I think it's a bit shite they've dictated where the 2 teams are to be based too. Like the initial applications it should be the best 2 proposals from the Districts outside of Edinburgh.

They should really be redistributing one of the Edinburgh ones

[Jock42]

I assume all 8 teams are being supported with travel costs? If that's the case the money they're going to spend should have been used to support the best proposal from the remaining 2 Districts.

I think it's a bit shite they've dictated where the 2 teams are to be based too. Like the initial applications it should be the best 2 proposals from the Districts outside of Edinburgh.

They should really be redistributing one of the Edinburgh ones

I think that would be a backwards step but they shouldn't have set up 3 in the first place.

[Big D]

I assume all 8 teams are being supported with travel costs? If that's the case the money they're going to spend should have been used to support the best proposal from the remaining 2 Districts.

I think it's a bit shite they've dictated where the 2 teams are to be based too. Like the initial applications it should be the best 2 proposals from the Districts outside of Edinburgh.

While I really want to agree with you, the exiles are effectively an unofficial 5th district. We have an exiles programme and our u20s regularly draw from the exiles. So I think there is some merit to bringing LS into the fray.

The more I think about a second caley team the less convinced I am it would work. The Dundee bid at the inception of the S6 wasn't that strong.

There are a few reasons I think it would be a struggle right now.
1. The teams aren't that strong. Grammar are currently rock bottom of the prem, DHSFP lower end of Nat1 with Highland mid table.

2. Convincing decent quality players to move into the area for a semi pro deal doesn't feel that achievable.

3. There has been no sign of the above clubs being interested in being part of a S8 since it was agreed to expand so I'm not sure the appetite is there for those clubs.

[Biffer]

I assume all 8 teams are being supported with travel costs? If that's the case the money they're going to spend should have been used to support the best proposal from the remaining 2 Districts.

I think it's a bit shite they've dictated where the 2 teams are to be based too. Like the initial applications it should be the best 2 proposals from the Districts outside of Edinburgh.

While I really want to agree with you, the exiles are effectively an unofficial 5th district. We have an exiles programme and our u20s regularly draw from the exiles. So I think there is some merit to bringing LS into the fray.

The more I think about a second caley team the less convinced I am it would work. The Dundee bid at the inception of the S6 wasn't good.

There are a few reasons I think it would be a struggle right now.
1. The teams aren't that strong. Grammar are currently Rick bottom of the prem, DHSFP lower end of Nat1 with Highland mid table.

2. Convincing decent quality players to move into the area for a semi pro deal doesn't feel that achievable.

3. There has been no sign of the above clubs being interested in being part of a S8 since it was agreed to expand so I'm not sure the appetite is there for those clubs.

Yeah, exactly. The bids were crap and the teams poor.

After addressing the ridiculous exclusion of Glasgow, another Borders outfit is the most sensible thing imo. Entirely on board with LS being included though.

[KingBlairhorn]

Not sure what London Scottish will bring to the competition.
They are currently bottom of the English Championship with 0 points and shipped 100 points against Ealing last weekend!!!

It’s a semi-pro competition, it aspires to be of the level of the English Championship but certainly isn’t yet. I think they’ll bring a lot. How realistic it is to be a semi-pro rugby player living in London though, I have no idea. Sounds tough.

I was thinking the opposite to be honest, how many would like a few years in London. I dare say accommodation and decent jobs would come as part of a package

I’m sure plenty will be up for it, I don’t fancy living on what, £20k? (pro rata, paid over 3 months) in London though. If accommodation and jobs are part of the package it will be more realistic, but inevitably those with decent careers will find it difficult not to drop out. Having said that, I’m sure there are plenty parents out there willing to fund a semi-pro sport and party lifestyle in and around London for a few years!

[KingBlairhorn]

I assume all 8 teams are being supported with travel costs? If that's the case the money they're going to spend should have been used to support the best proposal from the remaining 2 Districts.

I think it's a bit shite they've dictated where the 2 teams are to be based too. Like the initial applications it should be the best 2 proposals from the Districts outside of Edinburgh.

While I really want to agree with you, the exiles are effectively an unofficial 5th district. We have an exiles programme and our u20s regularly draw from the exiles. So I think there is some merit to bringing LS into the fray.

The more I think about a second caley team the less convinced I am it would work. The Dundee bid at the inception of the S6 wasn't good.

There are a few reasons I think it would be a struggle right now.
1. The teams aren't that strong. Grammar are currently Rick bottom of the prem, DHSFP lower end of Nat1 with Highland mid table.

2. Convincing decent quality players to move into the area for a semi pro deal doesn't feel that achievable.

3. There has been no sign of the above clubs being interested in being part of a S8 since it was agreed to expand so I'm not sure the appetite is there for those clubs.

Yeah, exactly. The bids were crap and the teams poor.

After addressing the ridiculous exclusion of Glasgow, another Borders outfit is the most sensible thing imo. Entirely on board with LS being included though.

Agreed, sensible post. There is an ideal geographical spread but that isn’t mirrored by the reality of clubs that can support this level of rugby in terms of infrastructure, finances, player pool and potential fan base.

There was always lots of discussion of Aberdeen due to the money and large itinerant population based there but for me that always missed the point. 1. If the population is largely not SQ it somewhat defeats the point and 2. A large percentage of them are offshore for long periods of time, not ideal when trying to also have a simultaneous rugby career.

[Biffer]

I think a second borders team is essential. Because of the tribal nature of borders rugby there are a pile of people who would never go to Melrose. Add another team and all of a sudden there's a local rivalry, and a 'who do you hate more' thing. At the moment the choice for fans in the borders is yes or no. Change that dynamic so the choice is Melrose or Hawick/ Gala / Selkirk / whoever and it becomes very different.

[Big D]

I think a second borders team is essential. Because of the tribal nature of borders rugby there are a pile of people who would never go to Melrose. Add another team and all of a sudden there's a local rivalry, and a 'who do you hate more' thing. At the moment the choice for fans in the borders is yes or no. Change that dynamic so the choice is Melrose or Hawick/ Gala / Selkirk / whoever and it becomes very different.

It is a difficult one. Easy for us to say there needs to be an additional borders team but in the last year before S6 and in theory the best players and teams "moved up", the two borders teams in the prem were Melrose and Hawick. Hawick won 4 games.

The rugby playing talent beyond u18, maybe u16 gravitates towards the two big cities.

It is a big financial undertaking to take on a "franchise" team, and I'm not sure the borders sides are best placed to sustain the requirements of a second franchise.

I've seen gnashing of teeth on twitter etc but so far no clubs have come out and said "we feel we've been excluded from bidding for a team".

Back on LS for a second, it opens up a different talent pool which is important otherwise we just use the same players as were playing in the prem.

[Jock42]

I assume all 8 teams are being supported with travel costs? If that's the case the money they're going to spend should have been used to support the best proposal from the remaining 2 Districts.

I think it's a bit shite they've dictated where the 2 teams are to be based too. Like the initial applications it should be the best 2 proposals from the Districts outside of Edinburgh.

While I really want to agree with you, the exiles are effectively an unofficial 5th district. We have an exiles programme and our u20s regularly draw from the exiles. So I think there is some merit to bringing LS into the fray.

The more I think about a second caley team the less convinced I am it would work. The Dundee bid at the inception of the S6 wasn't good.

I didn't think it was that bad. I never seen any of the proposals but I thought I read somewhere that it was "just" the training/gym facilities that needed improved on and they were keen to square that away and reapply?

[Big D]

I assume all 8 teams are being supported with travel costs? If that's the case the money they're going to spend should have been used to support the best proposal from the remaining 2 Districts.

I think it's a bit shite they've dictated where the 2 teams are to be based too. Like the initial applications it should be the best 2 proposals from the Districts outside of Edinburgh.

While I really want to agree with you, the exiles are effectively an unofficial 5th district. We have an exiles programme and our u20s regularly draw from the exiles. So I think there is some merit to bringing LS into the fray.

The more I think about a second caley team the less convinced I am it would work. The Dundee bid at the inception of the S6 wasn't good.

I didn't think it was that bad. I never seen any of the proposals but I thought I read somewhere that it was "just" the training/gym facilities that needed improved on and they were keen to square that away and reapply?

Sorry important to rectify a point there. I should have said not strong rather than not good. That's perhaps overly harsh language.

When I was involved on the committee of a club we were invited to their presentation. There were a lot of questions around facilities, finances and players at that point as they were mid table in Nat1 so would have needed pretty much a full new squad to move there. A couple of other committee members from other clubs remarked that they felt there would only be a team there if the SRU wanted a team north of the Tay.

That was a couple months before the bids went in so if they managed to overcome them enough to convince the SRU at the time I'd have been surprised.

[Jock42]

[Margin__Walker]

Kyle Rowe scored a cracking try off the bench for LI in the loss to Bristol yesterday. Apparently did similar in an A game the other day. May be one to watch this season.

Started this week away to Sarries and picked up a hat trick including another unreal effort from his own half and the winning try deep in injury time. Could he not get a game at Edinburgh? Looks a real talent

[Jock42]

Kyle Rowe scored a cracking try off the bench for LI in the loss to Bristol yesterday. Apparently did similar in an A game the other day. May be one to watch this season.

Started this week away to Sarries and picked up a hat trick including another unreal effort from his own half and the winning try deep in injury time. Could he not get a game at Edinburgh? Looks a real talent

Behind Graham, VDW and Kinghorn. I'd also add in Blain and Hoyland but they're not standout players. Cockerill wasn't the best in promoting talent imo.

[Margin__Walker]

No, he never was at Leicester. One to watch anyway.

[robmatic]

Kyle Rowe scored a cracking try off the bench for LI in the loss to Bristol yesterday. Apparently did similar in an A game the other day. May be one to watch this season.

Started this week away to Sarries and picked up a hat trick including another unreal effort from his own half and the winning try deep in injury time. Could he not get a game at Edinburgh? Looks a real talent

Most of his time in Scotland was with the Scotland 7s squad and training with Glasgow.

[Tichtheid]

We've got back three and backrowers coming out of our ears at the moment, what we need are props (tightheads especially) and big ball carrying 8s

[Slick]

Really am like a kid this morning, planning my walk to the ground to pick up the atmosphere

[Jock42]

enjoy

[Big D]

Really am like a kid this morning, planning my walk to the ground to pick up the atmosphere

Have a good un Slick. This will be the first game with "proper" atmosphere since before covid.

Tonga was grand but ground was half empty.

[I like neeps]

Very poor start. I fear it's one of those days.

[Big D]

Very poor start. I fear it's one of those days.

A few unforced errors.

Decent start in the scrum though.

[Big D]

We need to calm the fuck down.

[Big D]

Turner looks distressed there despite no obvious injury. Hopefully nothing too serious.

[I like neeps]

Turner looks distressed there despite no obvious injury. Hopefully nothing too serious.

Now we're relying on Sale's fourth choice who's been playing semi pro to go 70 minutes. Should have had cherry on the bench.

[Big D]

Hogg is right. That's a yellow all day.

[I like neeps]

No wonder Racing dropped Finn he's been honking so far.

[Big D]

Turner looks distressed there despite no obvious injury. Hopefully nothing too serious.

Now we're relying on Sale's fourth choice who's been playing semi pro to go 70 minutes. Should have had cherry on the bench.

I don't mind Ashman being on the bench. I'm more concerned about the part time TH that will join him at somepoint

[Big D]

Line out calling is consistently a shambles.

Ashmans first throw and they call it to the tail.

[Big D]

Love a good line out move.

Good calls like that make it all the more baffling when we do things like have a debutant throw to the tail first up.

[I like neeps]

Turner looks distressed there despite no obvious injury. Hopefully nothing too serious.

Now we're relying on Sale's fourth choice who's been playing semi pro to go 70 minutes. Should have had cherry on the bench.

I don't mind Ashman being on the bench. I'm more concerned about the part time TH that will join him at somepoint

Well quite. Especially as Aussie save their best props for the bench. Bhatti is going to be destroyed by Tupou as well.

[charltom]

Love a good line out move.

Good calls like that make it all the more baffling when we do things like have a debutant throw to the tail first up.

He's doing all right though, isn't he?

[I like neeps]

Back to the bad old days of just launching the ball wide and hoping.

[Big D]

That's quite harsh IMO.

[Big D]

Love a good line out move.

Good calls like that make it all the more baffling when we do things like have a debutant throw to the tail first up.

He's doing al right though, isn't he?

Very well to be fair. Other than the 1st one which was lost. Not his fault imo.

[I like neeps]

This is a dreadful match.

[Big D]

We need to wake up and be a bit smarter.

Only mitigation I can think of is some of them have only been in camp a week for the first time with Scotland since March. But that's giving them a lot of benefit of the doubt.

[I like neeps]

We need to wake up and be a bit smarter.

Only mitigation I can think of is some of them have only been in camp a week for the first time with Scotland since March. But that's giving them a lot of benefit of the doubt.

Our three best carriers are ZFagerson, Turner and Cummings. I think without two of them launching it wide is the strategy.

Also Johnson and Harris is far too limited ball in hand.

[Big D]

We need to wake up and be a bit smarter.

Only mitigation I can think of is some of them have only been in camp a week for the first time with Scotland since March. But that's giving them a lot of benefit of the doubt.

Our three best carriers are ZFagerson, Turner and Cummings. I think without two of them launching it wide is the strategy.

Also Johnson and Harris is far too limited ball in hand.

Discussion for another day, but I agree about the carriers which is damming about our number 8.

[Big D]

If he had a brain he'd be fucking dangerous.

[I like neeps]

This is awful. No discipline, no accuracy.