http://www.scottishrugbyradio.com Podcast for final radio show of the season on 02/06/2008 en-us 2008 Mon, 23 June 2008 11:10:00 GMT scouse6663@tiscali.co.uk 1 http://www.scottishrugbyradio.com/Program/programme01.mp3 On the final show of the season we cover the Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens, following the progress of Scotland's Sevens squad as they attempted once again to make it into the semi finals of the Cup competition for the first time ever. They had Argentina, Australia and South Africa in their Pool so it was going to be tough. We bring you a blow-by-blow account of their progress as the team did make history at Murrayfield. We hear from coach Stephen Gemmell and squad members Colin Gregor and Richie Vernon. Mon, 23 June 2008 09:51:00 GMT http://www.scottishrugbyradio.com/news.htm Mike Blair has been handed the captaincy of Edinburgh following his efforts as Scotland skipper in Argentina. This means that Ally Hogg (last year's captain) has to stand down, but although disappointed, he is right behind Blair and will contribute as pack leader. Simon Cross remains "Club Captain" for the second year running. Meanwhile two of Scotland's former coaching staff have new positions. George Graham will be Head Coach at Padova in Italy while fitness guru Mark Bitcom has been signed to Gloucester. The Border Clubs have decided not to pull out of the Scottish Cup competition following a meeting. The SRU have been able to re-organise the season's timetable to everyone's satisfaction and have put the Cup Semi Finals and Final on a Sunday next year to accommodate some of the worries of the Border clubs. Mon, 16 Jun 2008 03:54:00 GMT http://www.scottishrugbyradio.com/news.htm The SRU have a new President. Jim Stevenson defeated outgoing President George Jack 95-86 at the SRU AGM which lasted well over three hours. The big debate was whether or not to scrap the Scottish Cup but this motion was overwhelmingly rejected by the clubs. There has been talk that some clubs, particularly in the Borders, will breakaway from the competition this season but that remains to be seen as an emergency meeting of all Border Clubs will take place as soon as possible to decide what to do. It is understood that the travelling involved in a cup competition has put off many of the clubs in the South of Scotland and there is talk of re-vamping the Border League. Earlier Chief Executive Gordon McKie praised his team who have helped to keep the large debt under control and was happy to announce more cash for clubs. He emphasised the target of having 38,000 rugby players in Scotland by 2012 and felt this was still a realistic target. Mon, 09 Jun 2008 03:54:00 GMT http://www.scottishrugbyradio.com/news.htm Clark Laidlaw, one of the key figures for Jed-Forest, has taken up a new coaching position in Taranaki, New Zealand, while former Haddington coach Cliff Livingston has been appointed Head Coach at the club. His assistant will be Calum Brown who did so well last season stepping in to take over at very short notice when Gary and Kevin Armstrong left the club mid-season. Mon, 02 Jun 2008 03:54:00 GMT http://www.scottishrugbyradio.com/news.htm In a revised protocol between Premier 1 clubs and the two professional clubs in Scotland, Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors, it's been agreed that each of the Premier 1 clubs will get six Pro Players attached to their existing squads in a bid to bolster links between the pro and club game. The team which finished second in Premier 2 last season, Selkirk, got first pick followed by Premier 2 champions West Of Scotland and so on up to Premier 1 champions Boroughmuir. The process was then repeated until each club had six players affiliated to them. "The differential of pro players between clubs in any one match will be two so that more fringe pro players will gain game time. Clearly not all pro players will play for the Premier 1 club they are allocated due to pro team commitments and potential international obligations too," said Colin Thomson, Scottish Rugby's Head Of Community Rugby. The split is a follows, in order they were chosen: Selkirk - Sean Crombie (Hooker), Simon Cross (Back Row), Ben Meyer (Scrum Half), Gavin Kerr (Prop), Ross Ford (Hooker) and Phil Godman (Stand Off). West Of Scotland - Jon Welch (Prop), Richie Vernon (Back Row), Colin Gregor (Utility Back), Andrew Henderson (Centre), Fergus Thomson (Hooker) and Johnnie Beattie (No.8). Edinburgh Academicals - David Blair (Stand Off), Greig Laidlaw (Scrum Half), Hefin O'Hare (Wing), Mike Blair (Scrum Half), Hugo Southwell (Full Back) and Ben Gissing (Lock). Glasgow Hawks - Eric Milligan (Hooker), Colin Shaw (Wing/Full Back), Stevie Swindall (Back Row), Max Evans (Wing), Graeme Morrison (Centre) and Thom Evans (Wing). Hawick - Matt Dey (Centre), Opeta Palepoi (Lock), Calum MacRae (Utility Back), Chris Paterson (Utility Back), Matt Mustchin (Lock/Flanker) and Dan Parks (Stand Off). Stirling County - Ryan Grant (Prop), John Houston (Centre), Roland Reid (Wing/Back Row), Allister Hogg (Back Row), Alastair Kellock (Lock) and Mark McMillan (Scrum Half). Heriot's - Jim Thompson (Utility Back), Steven Turnbull (Lock), Alan MacDonald (Back Row), Nick De Luca (Centre), Ross Rennie (Flanker) and Bernardo Stortoni (Full Back). Ayr - Calum Forrester (Back Row), James Eddie (Lock/Back Row), Ruaridh Jackson (Stand Off), Moray Low (Prop), Sam Pinder (Scrum Half) and Lome Fa'atau (Wing) Currie - Andrew Easson (Centre), Andrew Turnbull (Wing), Dan Turner (Lock), Ben Cairns (Centre), Simon Webster (Wing) and Dougie Hall (Hooker). Melrose - Scott Newlands (Flanker), Geoff Cross (Prop), Mark Robertson (Wing), Kelly Brown (Back Row), Kevin Tkachuk (Prop) and Tim Barker (Lock). Watsonians - Kyle Traynor (Prop), Craig Hamilton (Lock), Andrew Kelly (Hooker), Darryl Gibson (Centre), Jim Hamilton (Lock) and John Barclay (Flanker). Boroughmuir - Steven Lawrie (Hooker), Fraser McKenzie (Lock/Flanker), Ed Kalman (Prop), Allan Jacobsen (Prop), Dave Callam (Back Row) and Justin Va'a (Prop). Mon, 12 May 2008 23:55:00 GMT http://www.scottishrugbyradio.com/news.htm Brave Scotland "A" were on the brink of pulling off a win in their first ever Churchill Cup Final against England Saxons in Chicago but in the final stages of the game they gave away an alarming number of turnovers to allow the Saxons to run away with the match by 36-19. Scotland were very competitive and were matching the English late into the match with the score tied at 19-19. A try from Colin Gregor converted by Gordon Ross (who also scored three penalties and a drop goal) gave Scotland their total but after impressive wins over Italy, Ireland, Canada and Argentina at this level they found the English too strong, but there were encouraging signs for the future with Gregor, Ross, MacRae, Dewey and Swindall in particular having good games. Basic errors didn't help the Scots' cause but it was good to see the ball being thrown about by both sides in a game played at pace in very hot conditions. Mon, 12 May 2008 23:54:00 GMT http://www.scottishrugbyradio.com/news.htm Biggar coach Aaron Collins has parted company with Biggar after his team failed to gain promotion from Premier 2 to the top flight at the end of the season. Collins had brought a great deal of success and team spirit to the club, and with a collection of foreign players enhancing his side, it did look like he was heading to Premier 1. The big body blow came on the last day of the season when Selkirk went to Hartriemill and nilled Biggar with a 15-0 win in atrocious conditions. His plans are unclear at this stage but with his experience a new challenge will no doubt be just around the corner. Scotland's A team to face England's A side, The Saxons, in the Churchill Cup Final tomorrow night will include five changes from the previous match over a week ago when Scotland beat Argentina's A side to qualify. Colin Gregor comes in at scrum half to partner Gordon Ross while Mark Robertson and Roland Reid are on the wings. James Eddie comes in at flanker with hooker Fergus Thomson captaining the side who are looking for a fifth straight win at this level. With former Border Riever coach Steve Bates in charge of the Saxons it adds a touch of spice. Bates was Scotland A coach the last time the auld enemies met in the Churchill Cup competition, and on that occasion it was a memorable Scottish triumph. You can see the game live on Sky Sports 2 from 7.45pm tomorrow night. Mon, 12 May 2008 23:53:00 GMT http://www.scottishrugbyradio.com/news.htm Edinburgh and Glasgow have been handed difficult draws for next season's Heineken Cup competition. Edinburgh will be joined in Pool 2 by Wasps, Leinster and Castres, while Glasgow Warriors will meet up with Bath, Toulouse and Dragons in Pool 5. Mon, 12 May 2008 23:52:00 GMT http://www.scottishrugbyradio.com/news.htm A magnificent first half display by Scotland saw them 16-0 up at the break thanks to three Chris Paterson penalties and a conversion of Ross Ford's drive-over try. Paterson bagged his fourth penalty early in the second half to extend the Scottish lead to 19 points but Argentina came back to score a try of their own from Lobbe which was converted. Dan Parks came on with 10 minutes to go and intercepted a long Pumas pass to put Graeme Morrison in for the winning try, which Paterson again converted. It was Scotland's first win on Argentine soil since 1969, and capped a brilliant day for Chris Paterson on his record-breaking 88th appearance for Scotland. Argentina scored a late converted try to prevent Scotland from getting the 15 points winning margin which would have boosted their World Ranking to a Top eight position. In the U20 World Cup, Scotland beat USA 41-14. England A team beat Ireland A to set up a meeting with Scotland A in the Final next Saturday of the Churchill Cup. Mon, 12 May 2008 23:51:00 GMT http://www.scottishrugbyradio.com/news.htm With all but one of the backline from the Edinburgh club, Frank Hadden has made the necessary changes "for no other reason but to win the game" when Scotland take on Argentina in the second test on Saturday in Buenos Aires. Chris Paterson will win his record-breaking 88th cap for Scotland on the wing, while captain Mike Blair reaches the 50 mark. Phil Godman replaces Dan Parks at fly half. Hadden explained that he felt Godman deserved his chance, and by surrounding him with familiar Edinburgh faces he felt this would give him his best chance to perform to the best of his ability. Team: Southwell, Paterson, Cairns, Morrison, Webster, Godman, Blair (c), Jacobsen, Ford, Murray, Mustchin, MacLeod, Strokosch, Hogg, Barclay. Subs: Hall, Dickinson, Kellock, Brown, Lawson, Parks, De Luca. Mon, 12 May 2008 23:50:00 GMT http://www.scottishrugbyradio.com/news.htm With four tries Scotland 'A' managed to reach the final of the Churchill Cup by beating Argentina's second string team, but they made it difficult for themselves by almost throwing the lead away on several occasions, allowing the Pumas to get back into the match. Scotland raced to a 12-0 lead early on with tries from Andrew Turnbull and Rob Dewey. They led 12-5 at the break and added another couple of tries from Colin Gregor and Jim Thompson in the second period, but they won't be happy by the way they leaked needless scores, and Rob Moffat's men will be looking to tighten up the Scots defence for the final in ten days time against either the England Saxons coached by former Scotland A chief Steve Bates, or Ireland's A team. Mon, 12 May 2008 23:49:00 GMT