The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Biffer]

Anyone seen anything about tickets for the World U20 Trophy games at Murrayfield?

[KingBlairhorn]

I don't particularly agree with the first part of your response as it doesn't matter that players can't leave Munster or Leinster, that wasn't the point being made, the point was that they have players who spend a lot of time at successful clubs, for whatever reason.

Anyway, speaking of Glasgow - Glasgow have had the Gray brother leave and have developed Cummings. There may be another one or two locks/blindsides on the way up now, but other than that they have bought in players to that position. Finn has never really been replaced, I like Duncan Weir but he is no Finn. Hastings was developed at school in England and then started his pro career at Bath. Hoggy's replacement was Glenn Bryce another player I liked but he was no Hoggy. Matawalu also placed fullback. Since then Josh McKay is the incumbent with Ollie Smith injured. I'd argue that Hoggy's replacement hasn't been brought up through the club, though that is unfair on Smith, but that is pro sport, injuries are part of it and he's not playing regularly. Going back, DTH and Seymour weren't Glasgow born and bred and their replacements aren't really either.

Fraser Brown* and George Turner both started at Edinburgh, Johnny Mathews was in his mid twenties before moving to Edinburgh to play for Boroughmuir.
Of their starting backrow of Darge, Fagerson and Dempsey, only Fagerson is a Glasgow laddie, if everyone was fit for a knockout game, Vailanu would be number 20 on the team sheet.

Big Staff has been one of my players of the season, but Huw Jones and Sione Tuiplulotu are the starters for the big games when fit.

Zander is the one, though. He came after, not immediately, but he walked into Euan Murray's shoes. I don't think Glasgow have a great record of replacing the churn with youth, or even that there is a churn at all, there is a turnover of players who leave though going elsewhere and retirement.

This is not a dig at Glasgow, it really isn't.


*I'm stretching the point with Fraser Brown for effect.

Off the top of my head the respective performance in terms of top-level (i.e. have, will or do play for Scotland) development in the last decade looks something like this:

Edinburgh Forwards (6): Crosbie, Hunter-Hill, Richie, Bradbury, Hodgson, Darge
Edinburgh backs (7): Graham, Farndale, Hoyland, Kinghorn, Rowe (bit debatable tbf as he only played once), Matt Currie, Harry Paterson

Glasgow forwards (8): Cummings, Z Fagerson, M Fagerson, D-arcy Rae, Gregor Brown, Alex Samuel, Max Williamson, Euan Ferrie
Edinburgh backs (5): McDowall, George Horne, Thompson, Ollie Smith, Rufus McLean (I know, but he was/is a good player)

So overall pretty even and averaging around 1 per season.

I'm not sure what my point is exactly, but one a season at each pro team is pretty poor. How many does the Irish rugby system produce per season?

I think you’re a bit short there. Edinburgh should include Hodgson, Harrison, Dodd, Boyle and Muncaster in the forwards, Sweeney and Henry in the backs. And we can debate whether Darge should be in the Edinburgh or Glasgow list. Big hopes for the Blyth Lafferty boys as well. Glasgow should include Sykes and Bhatti, and probably some others I’ve forgotten.

Hodgson and Boyle yes, Harrison hopefully but his career has gone backwards at such a rate of knots I’m not certain he will play for Scotland now.

Tom Dodd is a solid player but he was developed in England (Worcester I think?) as was Muncaster (Leicester).

The rest are too speculative to put in the same bracket as the others. I also missed the likes of McCallum and Dean as they also aren’t quite good enough for international rugby.

[KingBlairhorn]

Stuart Hogg is being linked with Montpellier as a medical joker signing. Midi Olympique has the story and they are often correct.

Will be interesting to see how much of the "broken body" stuff was bullshit....

From his point of view getting away can only be a good thing, I wish him luck

Can only assume he’s done the maths on a divorce settlement for a man with certain convictions and realised he needs to go back to work.

[Big D]

Stuart Hogg is being linked with Montpellier as a medical joker signing. Midi Olympique has the story and they are often correct.

Will be interesting to see how much of the "broken body" stuff was bullshit....

From his point of view getting away can only be a good thing, I wish him luck

Can only assume he’s done the maths on a divorce settlement for a man with certain convictions and realised he needs to go back to work.

A bit of both I think.

He was clearly dropping off so do think there was an element of his body being buggered.

He's still pretty young really, about to turn 32. So could get another couple of years in at club level. Hopefully he sorts himself out and can have some sort of relationship with his kids after taking whatever punishment comes his way for his very poor behaviour.

[westport]

Edinburgh Rugby wing Jake Henry today penned a new two-year extension in the capital – a deal which will see the 23-year-old speedster join Championship side Coventry Rugby on a season-long loan for 2024/25.

[westport]

Anyone seen anything about tickets for the World U20 Trophy games at Murrayfield?

Not seen a thing about them, hope they do something soon as it will be great days out.

Edit - tried phoning the ticket centre and it is closed on Wednesday's

[Biffer]

Edinburgh Rugby wing Jake Henry today penned a new two-year extension in the capital – a deal which will see the 23-year-old speedster join Championship side Coventry Rugby on a season-long loan for 2024/25.

Seems a bit odd given how short of resources we've been in the back three this season. Signings incoming maybe? Ross McCann already in place, but that still leaves us a bit light.

[topofthemoon]

Edinburgh Rugby wing Jake Henry today penned a new two-year extension in the capital – a deal which will see the 23-year-old speedster join Championship side Coventry Rugby on a season-long loan for 2024/25.

Seems a bit odd given how short of resources we've been in the back three this season. Signings incoming maybe? Ross McCann already in place, but that still leaves us a bit light.

The injury list has been freakish this season though. There's 7 back 3 players signed up for 2024/25 (not including Henry) and there's surely no chance they can be as unlucky with injuries 2 years in a row.

[Biffer]

Edinburgh Rugby wing Jake Henry today penned a new two-year extension in the capital – a deal which will see the 23-year-old speedster join Championship side Coventry Rugby on a season-long loan for 2024/25.

Seems a bit odd given how short of resources we've been in the back three this season. Signings incoming maybe? Ross McCann already in place, but that still leaves us a bit light.

The injury list has been freakish this season though. There's 7 back 3 players signed up for 2024/25 (not including Henry) and there's surely no chance they can be as unlucky with injuries 2 years in a row.

I had six in my mind as I'd forgotten about Sweeney. I suppose if Douglas and Brown are developing for an occasional run out as well that might work, but four of the seven will likely be on international duty in November.

[Biffer]

Anyone seen anything about tickets for the World U20 Trophy games at Murrayfield?

Not seen a thing about them, hope they do something soon as it will be great days out.

Edit - tried phoning the ticket centre and it is closed on Wednesday's

I emailed them a couple of days ago, and got an answer today, such as it is. They hope to have them on sale in the next two weeks.

[Biffer]

Peak Finn

[westport]

Anyone seen anything about tickets for the World U20 Trophy games at Murrayfield?

Not seen a thing about them, hope they do something soon as it will be great days out.

Edit - tried phoning the ticket centre and it is closed on Wednesday's

I emailed them a couple of days ago, and got an answer today, such as it is. They hope to have them on sale in the next two weeks.

Thanks mate I will keep an eye out for them

[KingBlairhorn]

So…….

If Hoggy is an actually good at Racing how do we feel about him being back in the Scotland squad?

[GrahamWa]

So…….

If Hoggy is an actually good at Racing how do we feel about him being back in the Scotland squad?

Thought it was Montpelier, and no he wouldn't be better than Smith or Kinghorn

[KingBlairhorn]

So…….

If Hoggy is an actually good at Racing how do we feel about him being back in the Scotland squad?

Thought it was Montpelier, and no he wouldn't be better than Smith or Kinghorn

Planet rugby reporting it’s racing.

Hogg at his best was a B&I starter and one of the best fullbacks on the planet. If he reaches that level or anything like it again, he would definitely be better than smith and certainly good enough for a Scotland squad place.

So, how would you feel about a return to the squad?

[Biffer]

So…….

If Hoggy is an actually good at Racing how do we feel about him being back in the Scotland squad?

Thought it was Montpelier, and no he wouldn't be better than Smith or Kinghorn

Planet rugby reporting it’s racing.

Hogg at his best was a B&I starter and one of the best fullbacks on the planet. If he reaches that level or anything like it again, he would definitely be better than smith and certainly good enough for a Scotland squad place.

So, how would you feel about a return to the squad?

Key word is was.

He’s now slower, and speed was his best aspect. I doubt he’ll be back for Scotland except in an emergency.

[KingBlairhorn]

Thought it was Montpelier, and no he wouldn't be better than Smith or Kinghorn

Planet rugby reporting it’s racing.

Hogg at his best was a B&I starter and one of the best fullbacks on the planet. If he reaches that level or anything like it again, he would definitely be better than smith and certainly good enough for a Scotland squad place.

So, how would you feel about a return to the squad?

Key word is was.

He’s now slower, and speed was his best aspect. I doubt he’ll be back for Scotland except in an emergency.

Jeez lads, that’s not the question I am asking. It’s a hypothetical and the hypothetical I have asked is, should Hogg be good enough to get back in the Scotland squad how would you feel about him being picked.

[Jock42]

Planet rugby reporting it’s racing.

Hogg at his best was a B&I starter and one of the best fullbacks on the planet. If he reaches that level or anything like it again, he would definitely be better than smith and certainly good enough for a Scotland squad place.

So, how would you feel about a return to the squad?

Key word is was.

He’s now slower, and speed was his best aspect. I doubt he’ll be back for Scotland except in an emergency.

Jeez lads, that’s not the question I am asking. It’s a hypothetical and the hypothetical I have asked is, should Hogg be good enough to get back in the Scotland squad how would you feel about him being picked.

No.

[Slick]

So…….

If Hoggy is an actually good at Racing how do we feel about him being back in the Scotland squad?

Been thinking about this a fair bit actually.

I'd like to see him show some genuine remorse and do some voluntary work or something with womens charities. Then yes, I'd have him back, I think people can earn some redemption.

[Jock42]

Key word is was.

He’s now slower, and speed was his best aspect. I doubt he’ll be back for Scotland except in an emergency.

Jeez lads, that’s not the question I am asking. It’s a hypothetical and the hypothetical I have asked is, should Hogg be good enough to get back in the Scotland squad how would you feel about him being picked.

No.

I realise no isn't actually an answer to this. I'd not have him back.

[Slick]

Jeez lads, that’s not the question I am asking. It’s a hypothetical and the hypothetical I have asked is, should Hogg be good enough to get back in the Scotland squad how would you feel about him being picked.

No.

I realise no isn't actually an answer to this. I'd not have him back.

In fairness, it was the best answer he got to his question up to that point.

[Jock42]

No.

I realise no isn't actually an answer to this. I'd not have him back.

In fairness, it was the best answer he got to his question up to that point.

I do all my best posting half cut.

[Slick]

I realise no isn't actually an answer to this. I'd not have him back.

In fairness, it was the best answer he got to his question up to that point.

I do all my best posting half cut.

Checked the time stamp and relieved for you

[KingBlairhorn]

So…….

If Hoggy is an actually good at Racing how do we feel about him being back in the Scotland squad?

Been thinking about this a fair bit actually.

I'd like to see him show some genuine remorse and do some voluntary work or something with womens charities. Then yes, I'd have him back, I think people can earn some redemption.

I was close to giving up on getting an answer.

I think this is where I am too, subject to the full details not being too bad when clear. If he was acting like a bit of a tit then he can find a way back. If there was violence involved (physical or materially phycological) then it's a forever no from me.

He is beginning to look a bit of a cautionary tale for the SRU - he perhaps was the first Scottish rugby 'superstar' who transcended the sport within the country, and who made it big, so to speak, very early. I am sure he will have been pulling six figures by the time he was 20 and felt like king of the world. The SRU have seen what can happen now and can hopefully have more robust support around these kind of guys when they break through to mitigate the worst of it. That's assuming we ever manage to produce another worldy, of course.

[Dogbert]

Team is out for the Quarters

Fully Loaded - probably the strongest team - with the exception of Stafford who is out injured, I suspect that Franco would have Stafford in over Shuggy - but Shuggy is a pretty good option

No excuses - knock out rugby , nice to see Turner back on the bench, and interesting that Thompson is preferred to Weir on the bench

1 Jamie Bhatti (103)
2 Johnny Matthews (70)
3 Zander Fagerson (146)
4 Scott Cummings (123)
5 Richie Gray (112)
6 Matt Fagerson (108)
7 Rory Darge (45)
8 Jack Dempsey (47)

9 George Horne (116)
10 Tom Jordan (47)
11 Kyle Steyn (C) (74)
12 Sione Tuipulotu (52)
13 Huw Jones (68)
14 Sebastian Cancelliere (35)
15 Josh McKay (46)

Replacements

16 George Turner (99)
17 Nathan McBeth (40)
18 Oli Kebble (102)
19 Max Williamson (17)
20 Euan Ferrie (18)
21 Henco Venter (18)
22 Jamie Dobie (65)
23 Ross Thompson (49)

Unavailable for selection: Fraser Brown (knee), JP du Preez (knee), Stafford McDowall (hand), Ally Miller (calf), Alex Samuel (head), Ollie Smith (knee), Lucio Sordoni (foot), Sione Vailanu (knee).

[Biffer]

Re Hogg: If I wasn't clear, I wouldn't have him back except as a fill in for an emergency.

[SomersetJock]

So…….

If Hoggy is an actually good at Racing how do we feel about him being back in the Scotland squad?

It’s a good question and the thing that is making it tough for me to want him to have a route back is that if he gets one then there should be one for Rufus McLean !

I know the cases aren’t identical but there are a lot of similarities!

Quite conflicted if I’m honest !

[Dogbert]

If it was a choice between having Hogg and Mclean in the Scotland team for a win , or not have them in the Team for a loss

I would rather lose - 100%

[Slick]

If it was a choice between having Hogg and Mclean in the Scotland team for a win , or not have them in the Team for a loss

I would rather lose - 100%

Against England?

[charltom]

So…….

If Hoggy is an actually good at Racing how do we feel about him being back in the Scotland squad?

It’s a good question and the thing that is making it tough for me to want him to have a route back is that if he gets one then there should be one for Rufus McLean !

I know the cases aren’t identical but there are a lot of similarities!

Quite conflicted if I’m honest !

Redemption should never be made impossible.

Otherwise you are telling cunts that they may as well just stay cunty.

[Biffer]

So…….

If Hoggy is an actually good at Racing how do we feel about him being back in the Scotland squad?

It’s a good question and the thing that is making it tough for me to want him to have a route back is that if he gets one then there should be one for Rufus McLean !

I know the cases aren’t identical but there are a lot of similarities!

Quite conflicted if I’m honest !

Redemption should never be made impossible.

Otherwise you are telling cunts that they may as well just stay cunty.

Yep. But it also takes more than a scripted apology and some crocodile tears.

[Dogbert]

If it was a choice between having Hogg and Mclean in the Scotland team for a win , or not have them in the Team for a loss

I would rather lose - 100%

Against England?

Against anyone - even if it made the difference between beating the All Blacks - still a no from me

[Dogbert]

So…….

If Hoggy is an actually good at Racing how do we feel about him being back in the Scotland squad?

It’s a good question and the thing that is making it tough for me to want him to have a route back is that if he gets one then there should be one for Rufus McLean !

I know the cases aren’t identical but there are a lot of similarities!

Quite conflicted if I’m honest !

Redemption should never be made impossible.

Otherwise you are telling cunts that they may as well just stay cunty.

You find redemption in other ways - would you have a police officer convicted of corruption back into the police.

Profumo would be the most high profile example

Profumo worked unpaid at Toynbee Hall in the East End and was given the CBE in 1975Lord Longford said he “felt more admiration [for Profumo] than [for] all the men I’ve known in my lifetime”. When Profumo died in 2006, the Daily Telegraph called him: “a man who made one terrible mistake but sought his own redemption in a way which has no precedent in public life either before or since”

[GrahamWa]

Planet rugby reporting it’s racing.

Hogg at his best was a B&I starter and one of the best fullbacks on the planet. If he reaches that level or anything like it again, he would definitely be better than smith and certainly good enough for a Scotland squad place.

So, how would you feel about a return to the squad?

Key word is was.

He’s now slower, and speed was his best aspect. I doubt he’ll be back for Scotland except in an emergency.

Jeez lads, that’s not the question I am asking. It’s a hypothetical and the hypothetical I have asked is, should Hogg be good enough to get back in the Scotland squad how would you feel about him being picked.

KB - No I wouldn't have him back even if he defied medical knowledge and returned to form. He would be damaging to the team ethic and could impact the rest of the team. None of which have backed his pish apology publicly.

[I like neeps]

If Hogg is found not guilty (again that's uncomfortable but where do we draw the line), the management would have him, the squad would have him back, and Kinghorn is injured. Then I'd guess you'd have to say yes?

Doesn't really matter what any of us think about him? Depends what the coaches and players think. The coaches I'm sure think negatively of him.

[topofthemoon]

Match preview for Glasgow v Stormers, including the 8 stats where these sides are ranked number 1 in the URC:

https://www.scotlandrugbynews.com/analy ... -stormers/

[Yr Alban]

So…….

If Hoggy is an actually good at Racing how do we feel about him being back in the Scotland squad?

It’s a good question and the thing that is making it tough for me to want him to have a route back is that if he gets one then there should be one for Rufus McLean !

I know the cases aren’t identical but there are a lot of similarities!

Quite conflicted if I’m honest !

Yeah, this is where I am at too. The cases aren’t exactly the same, but if there exists a path of redemption for one, then for me it has to exist for the other.

[KingBlairhorn]

Well that was an interesting watch, Glasgow will be kicking themselves to have fucked up the regular season though, away to Munster and then likely away in Dublin back-to-back is a real mountain to climb.

Zander was my motm by a distance there, what a massive shift. Absolute beast.

[clydecloggie]

Well that was an interesting watch, Glasgow will be kicking themselves to have fucked up the regular season though, away to Munster and then likely away in Dublin back-to-back is a real mountain to climb.

Zander was my motm by a distance there, what a massive shift. Absolute beast.

Darge and Dempsey did a lot in both defense and attack to keep the physical battle roughly even - both deserved MotM for me.

They'll take a lot of belief to Munster, and they'll need it.

[Jock42]

Where is Kebble going?