The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Tichtheid]

Peter Brown, RIP

https://www.theoffsideline.com/pc-brown ... fjBC0amuWQ

[vball]

Peter Brown, RIP

https://www.theoffsideline.com/pc-brown ... fjBC0amuWQ

A great man.and a great player. Sorry to hear this news.

[Slick]

I didn't know much about him if I'm honest but got a book for Christmas - "This is Murrayfield, 100 Years of History in a 100 Matches", by Rob Robertson and Peter Burns.

It's a terrific book, but they had two or three matches which they had interviewed Peter Brown about. Comes over as an absolute gentleman who played the game hard but fair and was loved for his eccentricities.

[Tichtheid]

Not rugby, but I just saw this

Jacob Fearnley has defeated Nick Kyrgios in the first round of the Australia Open in Melbourne.

Frae Dalkeith, apparently

[inactionman]

Not rugby, but I just saw this

Jacob Fearnley has defeated Nick Kyrgios in the first round of the Australia Open in Melbourne.

Frae Dalkeith, apparently

Check the tennis thread.

Great achievement, even though Kyrgios was struggling a bit with injury it's an amazing result for a first Oz Open

[BagfordViper]

I didn't know much about him if I'm honest but got a book for Christmas - "This is Murrayfield, 100 Years of History in a 100 Matches", by Rob Robertson and Peter Burns.

It's a terrific book, but they had two or three matches which they had interviewed Peter Brown about. Comes over as an absolute gentleman who played the game hard but fair and was loved for his eccentricities.

I once saw PC return the match kick-off into touch with a header, sending it some distance ahead to close to to the halfway line. It was at a final Scottish trial and he was captaining the Blues team, ie the pencilled-in Scotland side. The crowd loved it, but alas, the miserable b.refereeing it didn't and awarded a penalty against him. PC did it just for fun, (he could easily just have caught it), or simply to see what would happen.. This in an era when players weren't actually paid to entertain. Great fun. I loved PC's attitude and watching him play. He looked like he'd been assembled by committee atter a major piss-up, but he was a great player as well as a bit of a sporting eccentric.

Trial matches will never return, but I rather liked them. Watching established players being challenged by those keen to take their places always presented the possibility of an upset or seeing a new star appear on the horizon. I daresay the established players, having more to lose, hated them.

[Slick]

I didn't know much about him if I'm honest but got a book for Christmas - "This is Murrayfield, 100 Years of History in a 100 Matches", by Rob Robertson and Peter Burns.

It's a terrific book, but they had two or three matches which they had interviewed Peter Brown about. Comes over as an absolute gentleman who played the game hard but fair and was loved for his eccentricities.

I once saw PC return the match kick-off into touch with a header, sending it some distance ahead to close to to the halfway line. It was at a final Scottish trial and he was captaining the Blues team, ie the pencilled-in Scotland side. The crowd loved it, but alas, the miserable b.refereeing it didn't and awarded a penalty against him. PC did it just for fun, (he could easily just have caught it), or simply to see what would happen.. This in an era when players weren't actually paid to entertain. Great fun. I loved PC's attitude and watching him play. He looked like he'd been assembled by committee atter a major piss-up, but he was a great player as well as a bit of a sporting eccentric.

Trial matches will never return, but I rather liked them. Watching established players being challenged by those keen to take their places always presented the possibility of an upset or seeing a new star appear on the horizon. I daresay the established players, having more to lose, hated them.

That’s a great post, thanks

[Biffer]

Edinburgh squad update has Gilchrist out until the end of January with a hand injury, Muncaster out and return to play tbc.

Gilchrist would be a big miss for Scotland. There's a substantial fall off in the maul when he's not there.

[Tichtheid]

Edinburgh squad update has Gilchrist out until the end of January with a hand injury, Muncaster out and return to play tbc.

Gilchrist would be a big miss for Scotland. There's a substantial fall off in the maul when he's not there.

TOL has Gilcho being fit for the Scarlets game on the 25th, so he should be fine for Scotland. It still amazes me when we see the difference when he's not there that some fans call for him to be dropped permanently.


Anyway, we always seem to be very late with our squad announcements - SRU twitter just has "later today", no time given.

[westport]

Scotland squad for the 2025 Guinness Six Nations (caps in brackets):

Forwards (22)

Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (22)
Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby (10)
Jamie Bhatti – Glasgow Warriors (35)
Gregor Brown – Glasgow Warriors (4)
Dave Cherry – Edinburgh Rugby (11)
Luke Crosbie – Edinburgh Rugby (12)
Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (42)
Rory Darge – Vice-Captain – Glasgow Warriors (25)
Jack Dempsey – Glasgow Warriors (22)
Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (50)
Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (70)
Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby (75)
Jonny Gray – Bordeaux Bègles (77)
Patrick Harrison – Edinburgh Rugby (3)
Will Hurd – Leicester Tigers (4)
Jack Mann – Glasgow Warriors (uncapped)
D’Arcy Rae – Edinburgh Rugby (2)
Dylan Richardson – The Sharks (6)
Jamie Ritchie – Edinburgh Rugby (54)
Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (37)
Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (37)
Marshall Sykes – Edinburgh Rugby (1)

Backs (15)

Fergus Burke – Saracens (uncapped)
Matt Currie – Edinburgh Rugby (4)
Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (9)
Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (42)
George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (34)
Rory Hutchinson – Northampton Saints (8)
Huw Jones – Glasgow Warriors (53)
Tom Jordan – Glasgow Warriors (3)
Blair Kinghorn – Toulouse (55)
Stafford McDowall – Glasgow Warriors (8)
Finn Russell – Vice-Captain – Bath Rugby (82)
Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (9)
Sione Tuipulotu – Captain – Glasgow Warriors (30)
Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby (44)
Ben White – Toulon (24)

[clydecloggie]

Great to see Gregor Brown and Jack Mann in there. Too bad Samuel and Williamson had their injuries and couldn't stake a claim. Jonny Gray back, Ali Price out of the picture. Dave Cherry apparently didn't do any career-ending misbehaviour at the RWC after all.

And.. ummmm... like...that Glasgow hooker, wossname...Johnny something...ehhhh...no?

Strong squad. And well done to Rory Hutchinson for not telling Toonie to stuff his selection where the sun don't shine.

[Tichtheid]

Congratulations to Jack Mann, he's been playing well. Also to Dave Cherry on his recall.

I assume Steyn is injured or that would really be a surprise omission. Otherwise the squad is as expected, I think.

Schoey, Ashman, Zed, Gilcho, Cummings, Ritchie, Darge, Dempsey

Dobie, Finn, vdM, Tui, Huge, Darcy, Kinghorn

Cherry (we have to get the darts right) Suzz, Rae, Gray, Fagerson (could easily swap with Ritchie) Horne (any of the three could start or bench, so White in the mix too,) Jordan covers a lot of places and this is where Steyn will be missed in terms of his flexibility

[Big D]

Scotland squad for the 2025 Guinness Six Nations (caps in brackets):

Forwards (22)

Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (22)
Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby (10)
Jamie Bhatti – Glasgow Warriors (35)
Gregor Brown – Glasgow Warriors (4)
Dave Cherry – Edinburgh Rugby (11)
Luke Crosbie – Edinburgh Rugby (12)
Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (42)
Rory Darge – Vice-Captain – Glasgow Warriors (25)
Jack Dempsey – Glasgow Warriors (22)
Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (50)
Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (70)
Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby (75)
Jonny Gray – Bordeaux Bègles (77)
Patrick Harrison – Edinburgh Rugby (3)
Will Hurd – Leicester Tigers (4)
Jack Mann – Glasgow Warriors (uncapped)
D’Arcy Rae – Edinburgh Rugby (2)
Dylan Richardson – The Sharks (6)
Jamie Ritchie – Edinburgh Rugby (54)
Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (37)
Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (37)
Marshall Sykes – Edinburgh Rugby (1)

Backs (15)

Fergus Burke – Saracens (uncapped)
Matt Currie – Edinburgh Rugby (4)
Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (9)
Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (42)
George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (34)
Rory Hutchinson – Northampton Saints (8)
Huw Jones – Glasgow Warriors (53)
Tom Jordan – Glasgow Warriors (3)
Blair Kinghorn – Toulouse (55)
Stafford McDowall – Glasgow Warriors (8)
Finn Russell – Vice-Captain – Bath Rugby (82)
Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (9)
Sione Tuipulotu – Captain – Glasgow Warriors (30)
Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby (44)
Ben White – Toulon (24)

Is White, Russell, VdM, Huwipulotu, Graham and Kinghorn the most settled backline we've had under Townsend? It feels like when all are fit this is his go to 7.

Cam Henderson is probably the only name of those fit I think has been unlucky. He looks to be playing well.

Redpath and Steyn injured?

[Deepsouth]

Yes maybe after you come second in the Six nations,, you might make a semi final in a real competition like the World Cup.

Bless...

[Dogbert]

Scotland squad for the 2025 Guinness Six Nations (caps in brackets):

Forwards (22)

Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (22)
Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby (10)
Jamie Bhatti – Glasgow Warriors (35)
Gregor Brown – Glasgow Warriors (4)
Dave Cherry – Edinburgh Rugby (11)
Luke Crosbie – Edinburgh Rugby (12)
Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (42)
Rory Darge – Vice-Captain – Glasgow Warriors (25)
Jack Dempsey – Glasgow Warriors (22)
Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (50)
Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (70)
Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby (75)
Jonny Gray – Bordeaux Bègles (77)
Patrick Harrison – Edinburgh Rugby (3)
Will Hurd – Leicester Tigers (4)
Jack Mann – Glasgow Warriors (uncapped)
D’Arcy Rae – Edinburgh Rugby (2)
Dylan Richardson – The Sharks (6)
Jamie Ritchie – Edinburgh Rugby (54)
Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (37)
Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (37)
Marshall Sykes – Edinburgh Rugby (1)

Backs (15)

Fergus Burke – Saracens (uncapped)
Matt Currie – Edinburgh Rugby (4)
Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (9)
Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (42)
George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (34)
Rory Hutchinson – Northampton Saints (8)
Huw Jones – Glasgow Warriors (53)
Tom Jordan – Glasgow Warriors (3)
Blair Kinghorn – Toulouse (55)
Stafford McDowall – Glasgow Warriors (8)
Finn Russell – Vice-Captain – Bath Rugby (82)
Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (9)
Sione Tuipulotu – Captain – Glasgow Warriors (30)
Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby (44)
Ben White – Toulon (24)

Is White, Russell, VdM, Huwipulotu, Graham and Kinghorn the most settled backline we've had under Townsend? It feels like when all are fit this is his go to 7.

Cam Henderson is probably the only name of those fit I think has been unlucky. He looks to be playing well.

Redpath and Steyn injured?

Yes , and Yes

Steyn is injured with a knee injury but could play a part later in the Championship.

[Kawazaki]

Scotland really should play in black and white.

[Big D]

Gilchrist making another 6N squad at 35 is a testament to him, Townsends faith in him and the youngsters not really stepping up at international level.

Will be interesting to see if he is still 1st choice.

[Yr Alban]

Trying to figure out who isn’t in the squad, of those eligible.

Price, Steyn, Williamson, Skinner, Matthews, Millar-Mills, Hepburn, Walker, Henderson, Christie, Watson, Bradbury, Healy, Hastings, Redpath, Reed, Patterson, Smith.

At least half of those are due to injury, of course. I feel bad for Redpath, who I really rate, but his path to the team is blocked by Tuipulotu.

[Biffer]

Gilchrist making another 6N squad at 35 is a testament to him, Townsends faith in him and the youngsters not really stepping up at international level.

Will be interesting to see if he is still 1st choice.

The answer to that is a big yes I reckon. As above, the performance in the tight, particularly scrum and maul, falls off massively without him.

[SomersetJock]

Can’t say I’m too unhappy about the squad, I’ve given up expecting Johnny Matthews to be included now. Bit disappointed Steyn isn’t there for now but he will play plenty for sure, we do seem well covered at Centre but not so much at wing (although Dobie has played plenty there now).

The BBC HYS is the usual dull boring repetitive nonsense, I’m so glad the morons that pollute that are an easy to ignore whisper on here.

[I like neeps]

Really is a huge credit to Jack Mann. Would've been very easy for him to quit. Outstanding mentality.

Disappointed not to see Cam Henderson but getting back fit and firing for Leicester will only benefit us.

[robmatic]

So much for all those rumours about the Dave Cherry incident.

[Big D]

Gilchrist making another 6N squad at 35 is a testament to him, Townsends faith in him and the youngsters not really stepping up at international level.

Will be interesting to see if he is still 1st choice.

The answer to that is a big yes I reckon. As above, the performance in the tight, particularly scrum and maul, falls off massively without him.

I do think so too. But I suspect this will be the end of the road. I am all for letting players playing as long as they want but suspect he will finish or get the same tap on the shoulder that Jimmy Anderson got at the cricket at internationals after the 6N.

My apologies to GG he is 35 in August.

[Big D]

Trying to figure out who isn’t in the squad, of those eligible.

Price, Steyn, Williamson, Skinner, Matthews, Millar-Mills, Hepburn, Walker, Henderson, Christie, Watson, Bradbury, Healy, Hastings, Redpath, Reed, Patterson, Smith.

At least half of those are due to injury, of course. I feel bad for Redpath, who I really rate, but his path to the team is blocked by Tuipulotu.

Young Douglas too.

The propping situation is a bit grim.

[Slick]

Yes maybe after you come second in the Six nations,, you might make a semi final in a real competition like the World Cup.

Bless...

We already have.

Now run along before I tell your mum you're using her laptop again.

[Deepsouth]

Yes maybe after you come second in the Six nations,, you might make a semi final in a real competition like the World Cup.

Bless...

We already have.

Now run along before I tell your mum you're using her laptop again.

Oh have you? Must have missed that bolt of lightning. Now the game is to make a final. Don't worry I'm sure that will happen in the next 50 years...

[Slick]

Yes maybe after you come second in the Six nations,, you might make a semi final in a real competition like the World Cup.

Bless...

We already have.

Now run along before I tell your mum you're using her laptop again.

Oh have you? Must have missed that bolt of lightning. Now the game is to make a final. Don't worry I'm sure that will happen in the next 50 years...

First rule of trolling is not to look a dickhead by not knowing your facts. A first fence fall by the manchild.

[Jock42]

Is Burke any good? Not seen anything of Sarries

[Deepsouth]

We already have.

Now run along before I tell your mum you're using her laptop again.

Oh have you? Must have missed that bolt of lightning. Now the game is to make a final. Don't worry I'm sure that will happen in the next 50 years...

First rule of trolling is not to look a dickhead by not knowing your facts. A first fence fall by the manchild.

Ok, so we wait for a Scottish RWC final. Probably take as long as a first victory against the All Blacks. What is it now 117 years hey.

I'd be ashamed but obviously shame is a very scarce resource up North lol.

[KingBlairhorn]

Is Burke any good? Not seen anything of Sarries

He's in as 3rd choice 10 so plenty good enough for that.

[SaintK]

Is Burke any good? Not seen anything of Sarries

Nothing special as yet. Certainly wouldn't be pushing Russell for a while
Early days but I'd imagine Townsend will want to cap him sooner rather than later to keep his options open at 10

[Jock42]

Cheers lads

[Tichtheid]

Townsend also spoke about Burke being potential cover for 15 too.

[SaintK]

Townsend also spoke about Burke being potential cover for 15 too.

Not sure about that though haven’t seen him play there
Jordan would be a much better bet I’d suggest

[Tichtheid]

Townsend also spoke about Burke being potential cover for 15 too.

Not sure about that though haven’t seen him play there
Jordan would be a much better bet I’d suggest

He played a bit of 15 with the Crusaders. Jordan will be in the mix. Kinghorn will start at 15 with Rowe the main cover if he gets injured.
Huw Jones also has experience at the back.

[C T]

Scotland squad for the 2025 Guinness Six Nations (caps in brackets):

Forwards (22)

Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (22)
Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby (10)
Jamie Bhatti – Glasgow Warriors (35)
Gregor Brown – Glasgow Warriors (4)
Dave Cherry – Edinburgh Rugby (11)
Luke Crosbie – Edinburgh Rugby (12)
Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (42)
Rory Darge – Vice-Captain – Glasgow Warriors (25)
Jack Dempsey – Glasgow Warriors (22)
Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (50)
Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (70)
Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby (75)
Jonny Gray – Bordeaux Bègles (77)
Patrick Harrison – Edinburgh Rugby (3)
Will Hurd – Leicester Tigers (4)
Jack Mann – Glasgow Warriors (uncapped)
D’Arcy Rae – Edinburgh Rugby (2)
Dylan Richardson – The Sharks (6)
Jamie Ritchie – Edinburgh Rugby (54)
Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (37)
Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (37)
Marshall Sykes – Edinburgh Rugby (1)

Backs (15)

Fergus Burke – Saracens (uncapped)
Matt Currie – Edinburgh Rugby (4)
Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (9)
Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (42)
George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (34)
Rory Hutchinson – Northampton Saints (8)
Huw Jones – Glasgow Warriors (53)
Tom Jordan – Glasgow Warriors (3)
Blair Kinghorn – Toulouse (55)
Stafford McDowall – Glasgow Warriors (8)
Finn Russell – Vice-Captain – Bath Rugby (82)
Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (9)
Sione Tuipulotu – Captain – Glasgow Warriors (30)
Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby (44)
Ben White – Toulon (24)

Is White, Russell, VdM, Huwipulotu, Graham and Kinghorn the most settled backline we've had under Townsend? It feels like when all are fit this is his go to 7.

Cam Henderson is probably the only name of those fit I think has been unlucky. He looks to be playing well.

Redpath and Steyn injured?

That is a seriously on form back line, and the forwards don't appear to be all saft paps anymore.

Obviously still not ruling out a tight win/narrow loss vs Italy week 1 and a pumping by Ireland week 2.

[Yr Alban]

Trying to figure out who isn’t in the squad, of those eligible.

Price, Steyn, Williamson, Skinner, Matthews, Millar-Mills, Hepburn, Walker, Henderson, Christie, Watson, Bradbury, Healy, Hastings, Redpath, Reed, Patterson, Smith.

At least half of those are due to injury, of course. I feel bad for Redpath, who I really rate, but his path to the team is blocked by Tuipulotu.

Ross Thompson left out too.

[Biffer]

Trying to figure out who isn’t in the squad, of those eligible.

Price, Steyn, Williamson, Skinner, Matthews, Millar-Mills, Hepburn, Walker, Henderson, Christie, Watson, Bradbury, Healy, Hastings, Redpath, Reed, Patterson, Smith.

At least half of those are due to injury, of course. I feel bad for Redpath, who I really rate, but his path to the team is blocked by Tuipulotu.

Ross Thompson left out too.

Javan Sebastian has been in squads when fit recently as well.

We’ve put out teams worse than that lot this century tbh

[Slick]

Oh have you? Must have missed that bolt of lightning. Now the game is to make a final. Don't worry I'm sure that will happen in the next 50 years...

First rule of trolling is not to look a dickhead by not knowing your facts. A first fence fall by the manchild.

Ok, so we wait for a Scottish RWC final. Probably take as long as a first victory against the All Blacks. What is it now 117 years hey.

I'd be ashamed but obviously shame is a very scarce resource up North lol.

Nope sorry, you don’t get to just carry on a troll after fucking it up so badly, you’ll have to start again I’m afraid. Proper research this time please

[Biffer]

Edinburgh team for Sunday out - main thing is van der Merwe has an ankle injury, that wasn't listed in the squad update earlier in the week, hopefully ok for 6Ns. Academy winger Lewis Wells gets his first pro start instead. Dodd starting in the back row and Charlie Shiel gets his first start in lord knows how long.

There's also a hit out v Scotland U20s behind closed doors where Vellacot, Paterson and other senior players will feature.