The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Biffer]

Actually, hidden in the press release is talk of Premier Sports creating the UK's first dedicated rugby channel.

URC, Champions Cup, Challenge Cup, Top14, they can probably add Currie Cup and NPC as I doubt Sky is paying much for that, MLR, ProD2, look at some of the internationals that you find on YouTube for tier two nations, etc. And one or two decent magazine style programs and you might have something good.

[Tichtheid]

Actually, hidden in the press release is talk of Premier Sports creating the UK's first dedicated rugby channel.

URC, Champions Cup, Challenge Cup, Top14, they can probably add Currie Cup and NPC as I doubt Sky is paying much for that, MLR, ProD2, look at some of the internationals that you find on YouTube for tier two nations, etc. And one or two decent magazine style programs and you might have something good.

If it can be done at a price for subscribers that is affordable and brings in revenue for the clubs and international teams at the level they need via broadcast rights, that would be superb.

[Biffer]

Actually, hidden in the press release is talk of Premier Sports creating the UK's first dedicated rugby channel.

URC, Champions Cup, Challenge Cup, Top14, they can probably add Currie Cup and NPC as I doubt Sky is paying much for that, MLR, ProD2, look at some of the internationals that you find on YouTube for tier two nations, etc. And one or two decent magazine style programs and you might have something good.

If it can be done at a price for subscribers that is affordable and brings in revenue for the clubs and international teams at the level they need via broadcast rights, that would be superb.

Well, the question is what would you pay? I'd probably pay £15-£20 a month for that rugby channel if I'm honest. If they can add some SH rugby through the summer all the better

[Tichtheid]

Actually, hidden in the press release is talk of Premier Sports creating the UK's first dedicated rugby channel.

URC, Champions Cup, Challenge Cup, Top14, they can probably add Currie Cup and NPC as I doubt Sky is paying much for that, MLR, ProD2, look at some of the internationals that you find on YouTube for tier two nations, etc. And one or two decent magazine style programs and you might have something good.

If it can be done at a price for subscribers that is affordable and brings in revenue for the clubs and international teams at the level they need via broadcast rights, that would be superb.

Well, the question is what would you pay? I'd probably pay £15-£20 a month for that rugby channel if I'm honest. If they can add some SH rugby through the summer all the better

That's probably around what I pay at the moment for TNT and Premier - it's difficult to tell exactly as I get those bundled with Virgin broadband and tv.

[Sandstorm]

I pay £12.99 a month for Premier now. £20 a month to pick up all the other Rugby (I suspect Sky will hang onto 4N Tests) would be worth it to me.

[Tichtheid]

Good to see the orange back, I didn't much like last season's white

[Slick]

Good to see the orange back, I didn't much like last season's white

They are very smart looking kits actually

[Tichtheid]

Schoeman/Venter, Ashman/Cherry, Sebastian/Rae,
Skinner/Young, Gilchrist/Sykes,
Ritchie/Dodd, Watson/Crosbie, Bradbury/Muncaster

Price/Vellacott, Thompson/Healy,
Scott/Tuipulotu, Currie/Bennett
van der Merwe/Goosen , Graham/McCann, Boff/Paterson

Shirley that's not a pish team?

There's room for the likes of Boyle to really break tough, along with a couple of the youngsters like McConnell, McVie, Henry. Freddy Douglas is going to be a proper player, and I have such high hopes for Ollie B-L, both B-Ls in fact, plus Currie and couple of the backs but they need to be playing serious rugby on a regular basis

[robmatic]

Good to see the orange back, I didn't much like last season's white

Same here. The orange looks smart and I think it makes for a more distinctive set of kits.

[robmatic]

Schoeman/Venter, Ashman/Cherry, Sebastian/Rae,
Skinner/Young, Gilchrist/Sykes,
Ritchie/Dodd, Watson/Crosbie, Bradbury/Muncaster

Price/Vellacott, Thompson/Healy,
Scott/Tuipulotu, Currie/Bennett
van der Merwe/Goosen , Graham/McCann, Boff/Paterson

Shirley that's not a pish team?

There's room for the likes of Boyle to really break tough, along with a couple of the youngsters like McConnell, McVie, Henry. Freddy Douglas is going to be a proper player, and I have such high hopes for Ollie B-L, both B-Ls in fact, plus Currie and couple of the backs but they need to be playing serious rugby on a regular basis

On paper, it is more than decent.

[Jock42]

Free Jack's head coach has been appointed attack coach.

https://x.com/ScotRugbyNews/status/1824 ... 40238?s=19

[clydecloggie]

Schoeman/Venter, Ashman/Cherry, Sebastian/Rae,
Skinner/Young, Gilchrist/Sykes,
Ritchie/Dodd, Watson/Crosbie, Bradbury/Muncaster

Price/Vellacott, Thompson/Healy,
Scott/Tuipulotu, Currie/Bennett
van der Merwe/Goosen , Graham/McCann, Boff/Paterson

Shirley that's not a pish team?

There's room for the likes of Boyle to really break tough, along with a couple of the youngsters like McConnell, McVie, Henry. Freddy Douglas is going to be a proper player, and I have such high hopes for Ollie B-L, both B-Ls in fact, plus Currie and couple of the backs but they need to be playing serious rugby on a regular basis

On paper, it is more than decent.

More succinctly Edinburgh could not be characterised. It is a mystery. I can understand it if it was under a single coach, but is pretty much been their character under loads of coaches over loads of seasons.

[Biffer]

Schoeman/Venter, Ashman/Cherry, Sebastian/Rae,
Skinner/Young, Gilchrist/Sykes,
Ritchie/Dodd, Watson/Crosbie, Bradbury/Muncaster

Price/Vellacott, Thompson/Healy,
Scott/Tuipulotu, Currie/Bennett
van der Merwe/Goosen , Graham/McCann, Boff/Paterson

Shirley that's not a pish team?

There's room for the likes of Boyle to really break tough, along with a couple of the youngsters like McConnell, McVie, Henry. Freddy Douglas is going to be a proper player, and I have such high hopes for Ollie B-L, both B-Ls in fact, plus Currie and couple of the backs but they need to be playing serious rugby on a regular basis

On paper, it is more than decent.

More succinctly Edinburgh could not be characterised. It is a mystery. I can understand it if it was under a single coach, but is pretty much been their character under loads of coaches over loads of seasons.

I'll say it again, Cockerill was the only one to correctly identify and describe some of the major problems. A shame that his management style wasn't good enough to address them in the long run.

[SomersetJock]

Went to watch the local club I help out at play a pre season match against Caldy last night (Welsh Elite league v English Championship). Tight match eventually won by the Scousers by 2 points. The difference between the teams was Scotland under 20 winger Will Robinson. 2 try’s and gave our boys a hard time last night.

Very impressive young player !

[robmatic]

Schoeman/Venter, Ashman/Cherry, Sebastian/Rae,
Skinner/Young, Gilchrist/Sykes,
Ritchie/Dodd, Watson/Crosbie, Bradbury/Muncaster

Price/Vellacott, Thompson/Healy,
Scott/Tuipulotu, Currie/Bennett
van der Merwe/Goosen , Graham/McCann, Boff/Paterson

Shirley that's not a pish team?

There's room for the likes of Boyle to really break tough, along with a couple of the youngsters like McConnell, McVie, Henry. Freddy Douglas is going to be a proper player, and I have such high hopes for Ollie B-L, both B-Ls in fact, plus Currie and couple of the backs but they need to be playing serious rugby on a regular basis

On paper, it is more than decent.

More succinctly Edinburgh could not be characterised. It is a mystery. I can understand it if it was under a single coach, but is pretty much been their character under loads of coaches over loads of seasons.

I got my first season ticket when Andy Robinson was in charge and the team under him were good value. Since him, it has been consistently frustrating and, distressingly, that was apparently 15 years ago.

[Big D]

On paper, it is more than decent.

More succinctly Edinburgh could not be characterised. It is a mystery. I can understand it if it was under a single coach, but is pretty much been their character under loads of coaches over loads of seasons.

I'll say it again, Cockerill was the only one to correctly identify and describe some of the major problems. A shame that his management style wasn't good enough to address them in the long run.

This is part of the reason I think the younger guys need more gametime. If the older guard isn't doing it then try and establish a new culture with players who are coachable and can mould them. Everitt isn't the answer to that so he would need to go as well.

For whatever reason, a team of Internationals turn up small for Edinburgh whereas at Glasgow it is the opposite.

Time to start shipping players (and coaches if need be) out rather than rewarding average club performances with new contracts.

[Yr Alban]

Went to watch the local club I help out at play a pre season match against Caldy last night (Welsh Elite league v English Championship). Tight match eventually won by the Scousers by 2 points. The difference between the teams was Scotland under 20 winger Will Robinson. 2 try’s and gave our boys a hard time last night.

Very impressive young player !

Danger Will Robinson!

Was this RGC?

[SomersetJock]

[quote=SomersetJock post_id=368072 time=<a href="tel:1723901569">1723901569</a> user_id=2145]
Went to watch the local club I help out at play a pre season match against Caldy last night (Welsh Elite league v English Championship). Tight match eventually won by the Scousers by 2 points. The difference between the teams was Scotland under 20 winger Will Robinson. 2 try’s and gave our boys a hard time last night.

Very impressive young player !

Danger Will Robinson!

Was this RGC?
[/quote]

Was indeed, if you ever fancy a match give me a shout. I get a couple of passes that are never used

[Tichtheid]

Looks like Liam McConnell has signed a full contract with Edinburgh, that entire U20s pack looked promising, hopefully they will fulfil that potential

[Tichtheid]

Jim and Finlay Calder are 67 today.

Where did the last forty years go?

[Dogbert]

Glasgow Warriors add Talakai ahead of new campaign
21 Aug 2024
Glasgow Warriors have bolstered their front-row options ahead of beginning their defence of the BKT United Rugby Championship title, after Australian international prop Sam Talakai agreed to join the defending champions ahead of the 2024/25 season, subject to visa.

The 32-year-old will link up with his new team-mates at Scotstoun in the coming weeks, joining Scotland internationals Zander Fagerson and Murphy Walker, as well as new arrivals, Patrick Schickerling and Fin Richardson, and academy prospects Callum Norrie and Jake Shearer, on the tight-head side of the scrum.

Looks a decent signing , a definite up-grade on Lucio Sordoni, Zanderwho for me played too much Rugby last season , and Glasgow were too reliant on him - I can see Talakai & Walker taking a fair share off the load from Zander this season.

[SaintK]

Jim and Finlay Calder are 67 today.

Where did the last forty years go?

You tell me
I've got 5 years on them

[Yr Alban]

Jim and Finlay Calder are 67 today.

Where did the last forty years go?

It still baffles me that two twin brothers, who between them amassed 61 caps for Scotland, somehow never played in the same team.

[dpedin]

Jim and Finlay Calder are 67 today.

Where did the last forty years go?

It still baffles me that two twin brothers, who between them amassed 61 caps for Scotland, somehow never played in the same team.

I was doing the stewarding at Murrayfield for the Scotland v France Grand slam game in 84 when Jim scored his try off the back of a line out. I was sitting on benches at the front of the old main stand beside the band I think. I could only have been 30 yards away from where he scored the try - brilliant! I remember the Bear getting punched by the French LH in every scrum but refused to retaliate and just ground him into the ground at almost every scrum.

My stewarding job was to keep the Clock End terracing aisle clear which was impossible and also stop folk drinking alcohol which had recently been banned from sports grounds. It went ok until a group of 30 French supporters, all wearing Peugeot hats took out a huge calf skin wine holder and proceeded to pour into it their mouths. We were going to speak to them but then one of them pulled out a leg of ham and a 6 inch knife and began carving chunks of meat off for his mates. We stood well back - ham was tasty though!

[Tichtheid]

Jim and Finlay Calder are 67 today.

Where did the last forty years go?

It still baffles me that two twin brothers, who between them amassed 61 caps for Scotland, somehow never played in the same team.

They played together for my hometown club against Skerries in Ireland - the farming community in East Lothian is pretty close and they picked up a bounce game in our annual fixture due to being friends with some members of our team.

[Big D]

Glasgow Warriors add Talakai ahead of new campaign
21 Aug 2024
Glasgow Warriors have bolstered their front-row options ahead of beginning their defence of the BKT United Rugby Championship title, after Australian international prop Sam Talakai agreed to join the defending champions ahead of the 2024/25 season, subject to visa.

The 32-year-old will link up with his new team-mates at Scotstoun in the coming weeks, joining Scotland internationals Zander Fagerson and Murphy Walker, as well as new arrivals, Patrick Schickerling and Fin Richardson, and academy prospects Callum Norrie and Jake Shearer, on the tight-head side of the scrum.

Looks a decent signing , a definite up-grade on Lucio Sordoni, Zanderwho for me played too much Rugby last season , and Glasgow were too reliant on him - I can see Talakai & Walker taking a fair share off the load from Zander this season.

I am not sure another NSQ tighthead signing (along with PS) will block Murphy's need for game time. Although Walker does have an availability problem - he's not far off 25 with less than 20 Glasgow games.

[TheNatalShark]

Anyone have any recommendations for clinics for jabs in Edinburgh re travelling?

Yellow, tick, tetanus for Balkans. Got rabies jab earlier in the year

[dpedin]

Anyone have any recommendations for clinics for jabs in Edinburgh re travelling?

Yellow, tick, tetanus for Balkans. Got rabies jab earlier in the year

Is there not a clinic at the Western General Hospital - the Infectious Diseases Unit is based there - Ward 41 I think. Spent many a day there getting IV antibiotics following a dose of septic arthritis in my knee. I would go there before any private provider, these guys know what they are doing!

[Slick]

Anyone have any recommendations for clinics for jabs in Edinburgh re travelling?

Yellow, tick, tetanus for Balkans. Got rabies jab earlier in the year

Had to do this last week. Depends how quickly you need them, most of the NHS centres are booked up until middle of September. I managed to get an appointment at Superdrug on Princes Street at 48 hours notice for Yellow Fever and they do all the rest

[KingBlairhorn]

David Nucifora confirmed as taking the High Performance role for Scotland on a consultancy basis. He certainly was around in Ireland during their rise to a development powerhouse but I am unsure how much credit Nucifora specifically gets for that. Maybe some of the Irish players can say?

Oddly, he seems to be retaining his position with Australia. I suppose high performance work is separate to coaching roles but it still feels a bit of a conflict. Part of the high performance remit probably involves the player scouting/identification department?

[I like neeps]

David Nucifora confirmed as taking the High Performance role for Scotland on a consultancy basis. He certainly was around in Ireland during their rise to a development powerhouse but I am unsure how much credit Nucifora specifically gets for that. Maybe some of the Irish players can say?

Oddly, he seems to be retaining his position with Australia. I suppose high performance work is separate to coaching roles but it still feels a bit of a conflict. Part of the high performance remit probably involves the player scouting/identification department?

It is definitely a conflict but ultimately I'd prefer Scotland have a really good pathway here than a really good scouting network in Australia.

Really good hire, he did really good things in Ireland.

[fishfoodie]

David Nucifora confirmed as taking the High Performance role for Scotland on a consultancy basis. He certainly was around in Ireland during their rise to a development powerhouse but I am unsure how much credit Nucifora specifically gets for that. Maybe some of the Irish players can say?

Oddly, he seems to be retaining his position with Australia. I suppose high performance work is separate to coaching roles but it still feels a bit of a conflict. Part of the high performance remit probably involves the player scouting/identification department?

It is definitely a conflict but ultimately I'd prefer Scotland have a really good pathway here than a really good scouting network in Australia.

Really good hire, he did really good things in Ireland.

I'd say that's the last thing you need worry about with him.

When he started with Ireland, the biggest conflict the Provinces had with him was he made them stop bringing in Non IQ players, especially in the front row, to the detriment of the Irish side. He implemented quotas so that every position had to have IQ players playing in the three main Provinces.

It worked, & forced the Provinces to do a better job of managing the player pathways, & their academies, which is exactly what I suspect the SRU wants from him.

[KingBlairhorn]

David Nucifora confirmed as taking the High Performance role for Scotland on a consultancy basis. He certainly was around in Ireland during their rise to a development powerhouse but I am unsure how much credit Nucifora specifically gets for that. Maybe some of the Irish players can say?

Oddly, he seems to be retaining his position with Australia. I suppose high performance work is separate to coaching roles but it still feels a bit of a conflict. Part of the high performance remit probably involves the player scouting/identification department?

It is definitely a conflict but ultimately I'd prefer Scotland have a really good pathway here than a really good scouting network in Australia.

Really good hire, he did really good things in Ireland.

I'd say that's the last thing you need worry about with him.

When he started with Ireland, the biggest conflict the Provinces had with him was he made them stop bringing in Non IQ players, especially in the front row, to the detriment of the Irish side. He implemented quotas so that every position had to have IQ players playing in the three main Provinces.

It worked, & forced the Provinces to do a better job of managing the player pathways, & their academies, which is exactly what I suspect the SRU wants from him.

I hope he develops a strategy appropriate for Scotland rather than trying to copy paste what he did in Ireland or elsewhere into our ‘system’.

I was definitely referring to SQ players being scouted btw, for all their faults the SRU employ very few players not SQ.

[fishfoodie]

It is definitely a conflict but ultimately I'd prefer Scotland have a really good pathway here than a really good scouting network in Australia.

Really good hire, he did really good things in Ireland.

I'd say that's the last thing you need worry about with him.

When he started with Ireland, the biggest conflict the Provinces had with him was he made them stop bringing in Non IQ players, especially in the front row, to the detriment of the Irish side. He implemented quotas so that every position had to have IQ players playing in the three main Provinces.

It worked, & forced the Provinces to do a better job of managing the player pathways, & their academies, which is exactly what I suspect the SRU wants from him.

I hope he develops a strategy appropriate for Scotland rather than trying to copy paste what he did in Ireland or elsewhere into our ‘system’.

I was definitely referring to SQ players being scouted btw, for all their faults the SRU employ very few players not SQ.

I think given the proximity, he'll understand that Scotland is a different case, but he'll definitely be able add some value, as he was always involved in making the most of the resources available, & that meant things like moving key players between provinces, when one had an excess & that meant that number 4, or 5 wasn't getting enough playing time, or dispatching one of the International coaches down to help with training, or even just running coaching days for schools in the province so maybe a fresh pair of eyes would spot a prospect, or just tempt in some kids who would recognize the name of an International player & turn up, when they hadn't before.

[KingBlairhorn]

I'd say that's the last thing you need worry about with him.

When he started with Ireland, the biggest conflict the Provinces had with him was he made them stop bringing in Non IQ players, especially in the front row, to the detriment of the Irish side. He implemented quotas so that every position had to have IQ players playing in the three main Provinces.

It worked, & forced the Provinces to do a better job of managing the player pathways, & their academies, which is exactly what I suspect the SRU wants from him.

I hope he develops a strategy appropriate for Scotland rather than trying to copy paste what he did in Ireland or elsewhere into our ‘system’.

I was definitely referring to SQ players being scouted btw, for all their faults the SRU employ very few players not SQ.

I think given the proximity, he'll understand that Scotland is a different case, but he'll definitely be able add some value, as he was always involved in making the most of the resources available, & that meant things like moving key players between provinces, when one had an excess & that meant that number 4, or 5 wasn't getting enough playing time, or dispatching one of the International coaches down to help with training, or even just running coaching days for schools in the province so maybe a fresh pair of eyes would spot a prospect, or just tempt in some kids who would recognize the name of an International player & turn up, when they hadn't before.

I would hope he would quickly identify and seek to solve the 4 main issues in Scottish rugby (at least in my opinion):
1. How to get the best out of the excellent private school system. His success in the Dublin system is what really has people anticipating his arrival here.
2. Find a way to develop the borders system to consistently produce players. The players produced can be excellent (Hogg, Sutherland, Graham etc.), but can players be produced more consistently and can the borders and the private schools find a way to integrate to provide wider competition.
3. How to get the best state school players and club players into the system. There is a long held view (which may or may not be correct) that these kids are ignored for the best privately educated kids.
4. Tackle the blazers.

That is a tough gig.

[Big D]

It is definitely a conflict but ultimately I'd prefer Scotland have a really good pathway here than a really good scouting network in Australia.

Really good hire, he did really good things in Ireland.

I'd say that's the last thing you need worry about with him.

When he started with Ireland, the biggest conflict the Provinces had with him was he made them stop bringing in Non IQ players, especially in the front row, to the detriment of the Irish side. He implemented quotas so that every position had to have IQ players playing in the three main Provinces.

It worked, & forced the Provinces to do a better job of managing the player pathways, & their academies, which is exactly what I suspect the SRU wants from him.

I hope he develops a strategy appropriate for Scotland rather than trying to copy paste what he did in Ireland or elsewhere into our ‘system’.

I was definitely referring to SQ players being scouted btw, for all their faults the SRU employ very few players not SQ.

Edinburgh are down to 4 or 5 now; Venter, Goosen, Boffelli and maybe another prop and second row.

Glasgow have a few from memory; Jordan, McKay, argentines, two new props, Du Preez and one or two in the back row.

[robmatic]

Edinburgh are down to 4 or 5 now; Venter, Goosen, Boffelli and maybe another prop and second row.

Glasgow have a few from memory; Jordan, McKay, argentines, two new props, Du Preez and one or two in the back row.

Venter has turned into a project signing - he qualifies for Scotland before the end of his current contract and if he maintains his current level of performance is well worth a place in the Scotland squad.

Similarly, Jordan will be SQ in a few months.

[topofthemoon]

The non-Scottish qualified split in the main squads is currently 4 at Edinburgh and 8 at Glasgow (not counting Jordan as he will be SQ when the next set of internationals take place). 14% of all players.

4 x props
1 x second row
2 x back rows
5 x back 3

6 of the NSQ have been capped by other nations.

Of the other 6, McKay (2026), Venter (2026), du Preez (2027) and Goosen (2027) will be SQ by residency during this RWC cycle.

Both clubs also have one player each in their senior Academy who was NSQ at the time of the WR Trophy in the summer.

[Big D]

Rare bit of praise for the SRU. They seem to have become the go to stadium in Scotland for major gigs ahead of Hampden now. It is a useful source of income.

Oasis tickets will be in massive demand too.

[Jock42]

BBC ALBA are showing men's prem games starting on Saturday.