The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[KingBlairhorn]

Seems Glasgow have signed Facundo Cordero, brother of Santiago, from Exeter. Decent profile if not quite as good as his brother’s. Presumably taking the place of Rufus McLean in the squad.

[Yr Alban]

Finn played for Racing with his leg heavily strapped apparently, was struggling with his kicking and limping by the end. Rumours of a hamstring tear, but may just be malicious. I hope to Christ he is fit for Ireland. We have little hope with him in the team and none without.

[Tichtheid]

official announcement from the SRU

3 weeks for Gilcho, same as Haouas, the Edinburgh game against Leinster wasn't counted. He has applied to go to tackle school, meaning he will be available for the Connacht game

[Dogbert]

Seems Glasgow have signed Facundo Cordero, brother of Santiago, from Exeter. Decent profile if not quite as good as his brother’s. Presumably taking the place of Rufus McLean in the squad.

Glasgow have a bit of an issue with wingers at the moment. Steyn's away on international duties , Sebastian Cancelliere is currently injured , Josh Mackay is now out for the season , and the rumour mill has it that Cole Forbes wants to return back to to New Zealand at the end of the season., and obviously Rufus Maclean is no longer with the club.

Would be a good time for Darcy Graham to move across to the west coast

[Jock42]

official announcement from the SRU

3 weeks for Gilcho, same as Haouas, the Edinburgh game against Leinster wasn't counted. He has applied to go to tackle school, meaning he will be available for the Connacht game

Fucking joke.

[KingBlairhorn]

official announcement from the SRU

3 weeks for Gilcho, same as Haouas, the Edinburgh game against Leinster wasn't counted. He has applied to go to tackle school, meaning he will be available for the Connacht game

Fucking joke.

The 4 weeks to 3 for Haouas was probably a bit lenient in my view, but 3 weeks reduced to 2 is pretty much right for the Gilchrist incident.

[Tichtheid]

official announcement from the SRU

3 weeks for Gilcho, same as Haouas, the Edinburgh game against Leinster wasn't counted. He has applied to go to tackle school, meaning he will be available for the Connacht game

Fucking joke.

The 4 weeks to 3 for Haouas was probably a bit lenient in my view, but 3 weeks reduced to 2 is pretty much right for the Gilchrist incident.

I've no argument with he length of the Gilcho ban, but I do have an argument with the fact it's the same as Farrell's and ostensibly the same as Haouas (4 down to 3 after tackle school for a headbutt?), and also the fact that the Saracens game before the 6N counted in Farrell's ban where the Edinburgh game against Leinster didn't count for Gilchrist.

[KingBlairhorn]

Fucking joke.

The 4 weeks to 3 for Haouas was probably a bit lenient in my view, but 3 weeks reduced to 2 is pretty much right for the Gilchrist incident.

I've no argument with he length of the Gilcho ban, but I do have an argument with the fact it's the same as Farrell's and ostensibly the same as Haouas (4 down to 3 after tackle school for a headbutt?), and also the fact that the Saracens game before the 6N counted in Farrell's ban where the Edinburgh game against Leinster didn't count for Gilchrist.

On the which games count question I agree with you entirely. Too much obvious system gaming going on there.

[paddyor]

Yup, unless urged otherwise I don't think I'll watch that, straight to delete.

We can beat Saracens, who are head and shoulder above everyone else in the Gallagher Premiership, but as soon as we go down to second choices in the tight five (and not all of today's players are second choices there) we get absolutely hammered.

There was negative talk about Savala on the league thread, he hasn't kicked on in the way I'd hoped - Kinghorn will be playing a lot of games at ten next season

The first half was fine, but everything fell apart in the second.

It's frustrating because these second stringers were looking decent enough when they played last season.

It was very much a live and entertaining contest(1100m and 370 tackles) for 50+ minutes. Thought they looked a bit gassed when Leinster scored the 3 tries in 5 mins. Defo a few defencive issues though.

[Slick]

Steve Diamond for Edinburgh, perhaps

[Tichtheid]

Steve Diamond for Edinburgh, perhaps

Haven't we tried that already and it didn't work?

[Slick]

Steve Diamond for Edinburgh, perhaps

Haven't we tried that already and it didn't work?

Just saw it mentioned somewhere that he is on the shortlist

[Tichtheid]

Steve Diamond for Edinburgh, perhaps

Haven't we tried that already and it didn't work?

Just saw it mentioned somewhere that he is on the shortlist

I was meaning that he's from the same mould as Cockers

[Slick]

Haven't we tried that already and it didn't work?

Just saw it mentioned somewhere that he is on the shortlist

I was meaning that he's from the same mould as Cockers

Wasn't he quite good at balancing the bastard/best mate thing at Sale? Can't remember. I do think Edinburgh need a little bit of that back, maybe could be balanced with Blair staying on as attack coach. Dunno.

[KingBlairhorn]

Just saw it mentioned somewhere that he is on the shortlist

I was meaning that he's from the same mould as Cockers

Wasn't he quite good at balancing the bastard/best mate thing at Sale? Can't remember. I do think Edinburgh need a little bit of that back, maybe could be balanced with Blair staying on as attack coach. Dunno.

Feels a bit yesterday's man to me. He is best buddies with Mallinder is he not. It worries me if appointments are still being made in the SRU based on personal relationships rather than who is best for the job.

[robmatic]

Haven't we tried that already and it didn't work?

Just saw it mentioned somewhere that he is on the shortlist

I was meaning that he's from the same mould as Cockers

I'm with you on this one, don't think that's what this squad needs.

Glasgow fans didn't like the appointment at the time, but Franco has been excellent for them and someone in that vein would be good for Edinburgh. He seems to be firm in terms of expectations for fitness, commitment etc. but gives them license to play.

[Jock42]

I'd not be disappointed if they went after pivac

[KingBlairhorn]

I'd not be disappointed if they went after pivac

I hope they wait or explore all possible options, there will be a big coaching merry go round at the end of the season. Some really high calibre guys might become available like (very much just throwing names based on league position here) Pat Lam for instance and would be top pick-ups if they did (assuming they can’t all head to France).

[Slick]

I'd not be disappointed if they went after pivac

I hope they wait or explore all possible options, there will be a big coaching merry go round at the end of the season. Some really high calibre guys might become available like (very much just throwing names based on league position here) Pat Lam for instance and would be top pick-ups if they did (assuming they can’t all head to France).

Pat Lam would be very interesting indeed

[paddyor]

I'd not be disappointed if they went after pivac

I hope they wait or explore all possible options, there will be a big coaching merry go round at the end of the season. Some really high calibre guys might become available like (very much just throwing names based on league position here) Pat Lam for instance and would be top pick-ups if they did (assuming they can’t all head to France).

Lams rep isn’t great. Does well initially but things go wrong and he can’t get them right. He’d likely have been fired by f Bristol if he weren’t on a lucrative 5 year contract.

[KingBlairhorn]

I'd not be disappointed if they went after pivac

I hope they wait or explore all possible options, there will be a big coaching merry go round at the end of the season. Some really high calibre guys might become available like (very much just throwing names based on league position here) Pat Lam for instance and would be top pick-ups if they did (assuming they can’t all head to France).

Lams rep isn’t great. Does well initially but things go wrong and he can’t get them right. He’d likely have been fired by f Bristol if he weren’t on a lucrative 5 year contract.

Sounds right up Edinburgh’s street!

[topofthemoon]

Grant Gilchrist - 1st red card in his 12-year, 248 match pro career.

Mohamed Haouas - 3rd red card in his last 69 games.

The difference in their bans - a single extra week for Haouas

[Jock42]

I'd not be disappointed if they went after pivac

I hope they wait or explore all possible options, there will be a big coaching merry go round at the end of the season. Some really high calibre guys might become available like (very much just throwing names based on league position here) Pat Lam for instance and would be top pick-ups if they did (assuming they can’t all head to France).

Don't disagree with that but I'd take Pivac over Lam

[Yr Alban]

Grant Gilchrist - 1st red card in his 12-year, 248 match pro career.

Mohamed Haouas - 3rd red card in his last 69 games.

The difference in their bans - a single extra week for Haouas

Yep. And of the three reds Haouas has received, two of them were for actual violent conduct, as opposed to just making contact with the head - the punch to Ritchie’s face, and now the flying headbutt. But apparently that makes no difference.

[Wylie Coyote]

At times in recent years I've been irritated by Tom English but lately have appreciated him more and more. He was at his best on OTB Rugby addressing the weird Irish media idea of Scotland being arrogant and needing to be "put back in their box". He well and truly nailed it and I found myself cheering along, well worth a listen.

https://www.youtube.com/live/kyPPapx7ktY?feature=share

[Slick]

At times in recent years I've been irritated by Tom English but lately have appreciated him more and more. He was at his best on OTB Rugby addressing the weird Irish media idea of Scotland being arrogant and needing to be "put back in their box". He well and truly nailed it and I found myself cheering along, well worth a listen.

https://www.youtube.com/live/kyPPapx7ktY?feature=share

He does well to not laugh in the hosts face as he tries, and tries again, to dig up shit

[I like neeps]

Grant Gilchrist - 1st red card in his 12-year, 248 match pro career.

Mohamed Haouas - 3rd red card in his last 69 games.

The difference in their bans - a single extra week for Haouas

Yep. And of the three reds Haouas has received, two of them were for actual violent conduct, as opposed to just making contact with the head - the punch to Ritchie’s face, and now the flying headbutt. But apparently that makes no difference.

I guess they're classed as different offences so it's a bit apples and oranges.

3 weeks for a high tackle with head contact is pretty much standard. It's a joke they didn't count the Leinster game because despite Gilchrist not playing that game had he not been suspended there's examples where they haven't taken that into account. But oh well, they should treat games such as that as they did with Gilchrist so if this is a change in policy fine but it won't be so f*ck em.

[Tichtheid]

At times in recent years I've been irritated by Tom English but lately have appreciated him more and more. He was at his best on OTB Rugby addressing the weird Irish media idea of Scotland being arrogant and needing to be "put back in their box". He well and truly nailed it and I found myself cheering along, well worth a listen.

https://www.youtube.com/live/kyPPapx7ktY?feature=share

He does well to not laugh in the hosts face as he tries, and tries again, to dig up shit

There is some weird shit going on with Ireland as regards Scotland, I don't know if it was because we've been close in terms of quality in the past and now they are on a run and they are thumbing their noses at us, I can't tell.
I started going to international games in the mid to late 70s and we were on a par then, although I felt we had the better of it, I'm not going to go through the stats, but I do know that we won pretty much every game against them in the 90s, maybe that still hurts, I don't know.

There was talk about bad blood when they expected the SRU to back their bid to host the World Cup, the SRU backed the bid that would bring in the best deal for everyone, not to just Ireland and anyone who has been paying attention will know that the SRU are not at all popular among rugby fans in Scotland, so that would be a weird grudge to hold.

I've been involved with Scottish traditional music for a long time and all you get between Scotland and Ireland on that front is mutual respect and good feelings, this just seems to boil down to rugby, and fuck knows what box we need to be put back into, as some of them are talking about.

[Tichtheid]

Grant Gilchrist - 1st red card in his 12-year, 248 match pro career.

Mohamed Haouas - 3rd red card in his last 69 games.

The difference in their bans - a single extra week for Haouas

Yep. And of the three reds Haouas has received, two of them were for actual violent conduct, as opposed to just making contact with the head - the punch to Ritchie’s face, and now the flying headbutt. But apparently that makes no difference.

I guess they're classed as different offences so it's a bit apples and oranges.

3 weeks for a high tackle with head contact is pretty much standard. It's a joke they didn't count the Leinster game because despite Gilchrist not playing that game had he not been suspended there's examples where they haven't taken that into account. But oh well, they should treat games such as that as they did with Gilchrist so if this is a change in policy fine but it won't be so f*ck em.

Well, they talk about a player having a clean record as a mitigating factor in the length of the ban, I don't think that means you have a clean record up to the point you head butt someone if you've been sent off for punching another player in the face. That would be stretching the meaning of clean record, Shirley?
He hasn't kicked anyone in the balls yet either.

It's the inconsistency, Gilchrist's ban was right in terms of all the guidelines, apart from not including the Leinster game, and it's the perception that some unions and clubs game the system when others are not allowed to that stinks

[Yr Alban]

Still nothing in the news about Russell. Hopefully the talk about a hamstring tear is just rumour and hearsay.

[Slick]

Still nothing in the news about Russell. Hopefully the talk about a hamstring tear is just rumour and hearsay.

I'm pretty sure that was a wind up

[I like neeps]

Yep. And of the three reds Haouas has received, two of them were for actual violent conduct, as opposed to just making contact with the head - the punch to Ritchie’s face, and now the flying headbutt. But apparently that makes no difference.

I guess they're classed as different offences so it's a bit apples and oranges.

3 weeks for a high tackle with head contact is pretty much standard. It's a joke they didn't count the Leinster game because despite Gilchrist not playing that game had he not been suspended there's examples where they haven't taken that into account. But oh well, they should treat games such as that as they did with Gilchrist so if this is a change in policy fine but it won't be so f*ck em.

Well, they talk about a player having a clean record as a mitigating factor in the length of the ban, I don't think that means you have a clean record up to the point you head butt someone if you've been sent off for punching another player in the face. That would be stretching the meaning of clean record, Shirley?
He hasn't kicked anyone in the balls yet either.

It's the inconsistency, Gilchrist's ban was right in terms of all the guidelines, apart from not including the Leinster game, and it's the perception that some unions and clubs game the system when others are not allowed to that stinks

I think they probably classed his shoulder to the head as a rugby incident and the punch (also 3 weeks in the end reduced down but still light) as not a rugby incident. Not saying Haouas got the right ban - I agree with you it is lenient for me. Fagerson got 6 weeks to 4 for the Wales incident which is more similar although he had more of a run up.

And I agree not sure how England with Farrell have club games counted and we dont. My guess is that the players contracts are more specific in terms of international window rest periods in Scotland than England's etc? But it does seem unfair.

[Slick]

I guess they're classed as different offences so it's a bit apples and oranges.

3 weeks for a high tackle with head contact is pretty much standard. It's a joke they didn't count the Leinster game because despite Gilchrist not playing that game had he not been suspended there's examples where they haven't taken that into account. But oh well, they should treat games such as that as they did with Gilchrist so if this is a change in policy fine but it won't be so f*ck em.

Well, they talk about a player having a clean record as a mitigating factor in the length of the ban, I don't think that means you have a clean record up to the point you head butt someone if you've been sent off for punching another player in the face. That would be stretching the meaning of clean record, Shirley?
He hasn't kicked anyone in the balls yet either.

It's the inconsistency, Gilchrist's ban was right in terms of all the guidelines, apart from not including the Leinster game, and it's the perception that some unions and clubs game the system when others are not allowed to that stinks

I think they probably classed his shoulder to the head as a rugby incident and the punch (also 3 weeks in the end reduced down but still light) as not a rugby incident. Not saying Haouas got the right ban - I agree with you it is lenient for me. Fagerson got 6 weeks to 4 for the Wales incident which is more similar although he had more of a run up.

And I agree not sure how England with Farrell have club games counted and we dont. My guess is that the players contracts are more specific in terms of international window rest periods in Scotland than England's etc? But it does seem unfair.

Isn't it ultimately up to the individual Unions and England stretched the limits for Farrell? I seem to remember seeing some pushback against the RFU even from England supporters on social media about that.

[inactionman]

At times in recent years I've been irritated by Tom English but lately have appreciated him more and more. He was at his best on OTB Rugby addressing the weird Irish media idea of Scotland being arrogant and needing to be "put back in their box". He well and truly nailed it and I found myself cheering along, well worth a listen.

https://www.youtube.com/live/kyPPapx7ktY?feature=share

He does well to not laugh in the hosts face as he tries, and tries again, to dig up shit

There is some weird shit going on with Ireland as regards Scotland, I don't know if it was because we've been close in terms of quality in the past and now they are on a run and they are thumbing their noses at us, I can't tell.
I started going to international games in the mid to late 70s and we were on a par then, although I felt we had the better of it, I'm not going to go through the stats, but I do know that we won pretty much every game against them in the 90s, maybe that still hurts, I don't know.

There was talk about bad blood when they expected the SRU to back their bid to host the World Cup, the SRU backed the bid that would bring in the best deal for everyone, not to just Ireland and anyone who has been paying attention will know that the SRU are not at all popular among rugby fans in Scotland, so that would be a weird grudge to hold.

I've been involved with Scottish traditional music for a long time and all you get between Scotland and Ireland on that front is mutual respect and good feelings, this just seems to boil down to rugby, and fuck knows what box we need to be put back into, as some of them are talking about.

I'd not worry- I'd expect it's the usual issue of people assuming any team/group/nation speaks with one voice and are one monolithic whole, and taking the opinion of the most deluded, jingoistic joker as the mouthpiece. Usually as they're the loudest in volume.

It happens with England a lot - we've got a few pompous pundits but most are realistic (even pessimistic) - the problems come when there's a high profile event and the tabloid press get hold of it.

[Biffer]

He does well to not laugh in the hosts face as he tries, and tries again, to dig up shit

There is some weird shit going on with Ireland as regards Scotland, I don't know if it was because we've been close in terms of quality in the past and now they are on a run and they are thumbing their noses at us, I can't tell.
I started going to international games in the mid to late 70s and we were on a par then, although I felt we had the better of it, I'm not going to go through the stats, but I do know that we won pretty much every game against them in the 90s, maybe that still hurts, I don't know.

There was talk about bad blood when they expected the SRU to back their bid to host the World Cup, the SRU backed the bid that would bring in the best deal for everyone, not to just Ireland and anyone who has been paying attention will know that the SRU are not at all popular among rugby fans in Scotland, so that would be a weird grudge to hold.

I've been involved with Scottish traditional music for a long time and all you get between Scotland and Ireland on that front is mutual respect and good feelings, this just seems to boil down to rugby, and fuck knows what box we need to be put back into, as some of them are talking about.

I'd not worry- I'd expect it's the usual issue of people assuming any team/group/nation speaks with one voice and are one monolithic whole, and taking the opinion of the most deluded, jingoistic joker as the mouthpiece. Usually as they're the loudest in volume.

It happens with England a lot - we've got a few pompous pundits but most are realistic (even pessimistic) - the problems come when there's a high profile event and the tabloid press get hold of it.

One of the things you have to remember is that rugby is Ireland's only significant professional sport. I think that colours attitudes to it in a way that it doesn't in the other home nations (or frankly anyone else except NZ)

[Yr Alban]

Still nothing in the news about Russell. Hopefully the talk about a hamstring tear is just rumour and hearsay.

I'm pretty sure that was a wind up

I hope so. He did have a lot of strapping on the leg and was reportedly struggling with his kicking and limping a bit.

[Big D]

I think they probably classed his shoulder to the head as a rugby incident and the punch (also 3 weeks in the end reduced down but still light) as not a rugby incident. Not saying Haouas got the right ban - I agree with you it is lenient for me. Fagerson got 6 weeks to 4 for the Wales incident which is more similar although he had more of a run up.

Fagerson plead not guilty trying to make the last two 6N games knowing he wouldn't have been playing the 1st or 4th week for Glasgow anyway IIRC.

Still though, the inconsistency is maddening.

[westport]

Rory Darge and Scott Cummings have been added to the squad this week with Stafford McDowall and Simon Berghan also back with the playing group.

Grant Gilchrist and Josh Bayliss have returned to their clubs.

[westport]

2023 FOSROC Super Series Sprint Fixtures

Round 1
Fri 7 April Ayrshire Bulls v Glasgow Warriors A, 7.35pm
Fri 7 April Stirling Wolves v Boroughmuir Bears, 7.35pm
Sat 8 April Watsonians Rugby v Southern Knights, 3.00pm
Sat 8 April Heriot’s Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby A, 5.00pm

Round 2
Fri 14 April Watsonians Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby A, 7.35pm
Fri 14 April Ayrshire Bulls v Stirling Wolves, 7.35pm
Sat 15 April Heriot’s Rugby v Southern Knights, 3.00pm
Sat 15 April Boroughmuir Bears v Glasgow Warriors A, 5.00pm

Round 3
Fri 21 April Stirling Wolves v Glasgow Warriors A, 7.35pm
Fri 21 April Boroughmuir Bears v Ayrshire Bulls, 7.35pm
Sat 22 April Heriot’s Rugby v Watsonians Rugby, 3.00pm
Sat 22 April Southern Knights v Edinburgh Rugby A, 5.00pm

Round 4
Fri 28th April Stirling Wolves v Watsonians Rugby, 7.35pm
Sat 29th April Boroughmuir Bears v Heriot’s Rugby, 3.00pm
Sat 29th April Southern Knights v Ayrshire Bulls, 5.00pm

Round 5
Fri 12th May Boroughmuir Bears v Watsonians Rugby, 7.35pm
Sat 13th May Stirling Wolves v Southern Knights, 3.00pm
Sat 13th May Ayrshire Bulls v Heriot’s Rugby, 5.00pm

Round 6
Fri 19th May Ayrshire Bulls v Watsonians Rugby, 7.35pm
Sat 20th May Heriot’s Rugby v Stirling Wolves, 3.00pm
Sat 20th May Southern Knights v Boroughmuir Bears, 5.00pm

Play Offs
Fri 26th May 1st v 2nd, 7.35pm
Sat 27th May 5th v 6th, 3.00pm
Sat 27th May 3rd v 4th, 5.00pm

[KingBlairhorn]

2023 FOSROC Super Series Sprint Fixtures

Round 1
Fri 7 April Ayrshire Bulls v Glasgow Warriors A, 7.35pm
Fri 7 April Stirling Wolves v Boroughmuir Bears, 7.35pm
Sat 8 April Watsonians Rugby v Southern Knights, 3.00pm
Sat 8 April Heriot’s Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby A, 5.00pm

Round 2
Fri 14 April Watsonians Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby A, 7.35pm
Fri 14 April Ayrshire Bulls v Stirling Wolves, 7.35pm
Sat 15 April Heriot’s Rugby v Southern Knights, 3.00pm
Sat 15 April Boroughmuir Bears v Glasgow Warriors A, 5.00pm

Round 3
Fri 21 April Stirling Wolves v Glasgow Warriors A, 7.35pm
Fri 21 April Boroughmuir Bears v Ayrshire Bulls, 7.35pm
Sat 22 April Heriot’s Rugby v Watsonians Rugby, 3.00pm
Sat 22 April Southern Knights v Edinburgh Rugby A, 5.00pm

Round 4
Fri 28th April Stirling Wolves v Watsonians Rugby, 7.35pm
Sat 29th April Boroughmuir Bears v Heriot’s Rugby, 3.00pm
Sat 29th April Southern Knights v Ayrshire Bulls, 5.00pm

Round 5
Fri 12th May Boroughmuir Bears v Watsonians Rugby, 7.35pm
Sat 13th May Stirling Wolves v Southern Knights, 3.00pm
Sat 13th May Ayrshire Bulls v Heriot’s Rugby, 5.00pm

Round 6
Fri 19th May Ayrshire Bulls v Watsonians Rugby, 7.35pm
Sat 20th May Heriot’s Rugby v Stirling Wolves, 3.00pm
Sat 20th May Southern Knights v Boroughmuir Bears, 5.00pm

Play Offs
Fri 26th May 1st v 2nd, 7.35pm
Sat 27th May 5th v 6th, 3.00pm
Sat 27th May 3rd v 4th, 5.00pm

I haven't actually managed to get to a Super6 or Sprint game yet but I am definitely going to try this year. I can practically throw a stone from my house to Myreside and Meggatland so I've no excuse really.