Scottish Rugby

BBC Scotland's chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering some of your Scottish rugby questions

Jamie asked: What is success for Glasgow and Edinburgh in the play-offs? Is it crazy to think Edinburgh have a better chance at the title?

Tom answered: Let's talk Glasgow first. They have to beat the Stormers at home, that's a given. On current form, I'm worried. Anything other than a victory and the season will go down as a disappointment.

If they win, their problem then is that because they fell away to fourth they'll probably have to go to Dublin. They took the tough road to glory last season but this season looks even tougher.

With their injuries, I can't see them beating Leinster in Dublin. A competitive semi-final defeat would go down as a decent title defence in my book.

I wouldn't say Edinburgh have a better chance. They have a really hard assignment away to Bulls on Saturday and if they win that then, on seeding, they'll be playing Sharks away in the semi-final and, again on seeding, Leinster away in the final.

That's a brutal run. If they win the URC then forget the chat about Sean Everitt keeping his job, the only thing up for debate at that point will be where to put his statue.

Graham asked: With George Turner joining Harlequins can we look forward to him being part of the Scotland set-up again? We've missed him.

Tom Tom answered: Totally agree Scotland have missed him. He's still the best hooker and it's good news he's back close to home.

For, me, if he's still playing close to his best, he's first choice for Scotland. I hope he's making himself available come the autumn.

Davie asked: Great win for Bath in the Challenge Cup final but what has Finn Russell go to do? He got slated by the radio comms for having a poor game, this is the same commentator that criticises him for being a maverick. But when he controls a game behind a strong pack it's clearly not good enough either.

Tom answered: People are allowed their opinion. In my view, Finn Russell's game management is outstanding. Some have an outdated view of him as some kind of Harlem Globetrotter, but it's wildly unfair.

He's one of the best 10s I have seen and he's more mature now than he's ever been. His performance in the Challenge Cup final was quietly authoritative. No bells and whistles, just calm and dominant. The anti-maverick.

Put him behind a strong pack, as he'll have in the summer with the Lions, and he'll be brilliant. He can deliver the flashes of genius, but that's only part of what he is.

V.I.Pip asked: If Aberdeen, against all the odds, can win the Scottish Cup for the first time in 35 years, what's holding Scotland back from a Grand Slam? It's clearly about belief within the squad and clear, concise messaging from the management.

Tom answered: If only it was so easy. Scotland don't win championships or Grand Slams because they have to win four or five games in a row, with some of them against physically superior opponents.

They haven't been good enough to do that. They haven't had the artillery up front, where most rugby games are decided.

With all due respect to Aberdeen's opponents in the early rounds of the Scottish Cup, they were lower league. Then they beat nine-man Hearts in the semi-final. A Six Nations is a lot harder than that. You're playing against some of the best teams in the world. The attrition is through the roof.

I think these Scotland players believe in themselves, and they're a very fine side, but they're just not as good as Ireland and France.

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Glasgow Warriors are able to call upon Josh McKay and Henco Venter for Friday's URC quarter-final against Stormers, but will be without Scotland centre Huw Jones who has an Achilles problem.

McKay returns from injury while Venter is available again following suspension amid several changes to the side beaten by Leinster in the final match of Glasgow's regular league season.

Gregor Hiddleston and Murphy Walker join Jamie Bhatti in the front row and Scott Cummings partners Alex Samuel in the second row.

George Horne and Tom Jordan are the preferred half-backs, Stafford McDowall replaces Huw Jones alongside Sione Tuipulotu, while Kyle Rowe shifts to the wing to accommodate McKay at full-back.

"The Stormers will pose one of the most dangerous attacking threats in the competition tomorrow night, and we know that we must be at our best to meet the challenge they will bring," head coach Franco Smith said.

"They have the ability to hurt any team with ball in hand, mixing a physical forward pack with a backline that can spark something from anywhere.

"We know how special an atmosphere Scotstoun can provide on nights like these."

Glasgow Warriors XV to face Stormers: McKay, Rowe, McDowall, Tuipulotu, Steyn, Jordan, Horne; Bhatti, Hiddleston, Walker, Samuel, Cummings, Ferrie, Darge, Venter.

Replacements: Matthews, McBeth, Talakai, Williamson, Mann, Duncan, Dobie, Hastings.

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Ross Thompson feels he has "grown" as a player in his first season with Edinburgh and is determined to help Sean Everitt's side progress in the play-offs.

The 26-year-old stand-off has started 16 of 18 league games since his move from Glasgow last summer.

Speaking to prior to Saturday's quarter-final against Bulls in Pretoria, Thompson said: "I think there's definitely things I can get better at, but I feel like I've grown.

"As the team performances have got a bit better, I feel like I've been playing a little bit better.

"I'm really happy here, I'm really glad I made the move and I've enjoyed this season. Hopefully there's still a few games left for us."

Thompson won the last of his seven Scotland caps on the 2024 summer tour of the Americas, but is fully focused on club matters for now.

Asked if he had hopes of earning a recall to Gregor Townsend's squad for this summer's tour of the South Pacific, the fly-half said: "I'm not too sure to be honest, I'm not giving it too much thought. I'm just looking forward to this quarter-final and the chance to go far in knockout rugby.

"We did it in the Challenge Cup, got to a semi-final, and it's really exciting to be a part of."

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Rory Darge has warned his Glasgow Warriors team-mates to be ready for an intense mental and physical challenge against Stormers at Scotstoun on Friday night.

The sides meet in the URC quarter-finals in Glasgow for the second successive season, with Franco Smith's side winning 27-10 a year ago on their way to the title.

Speaking on the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast, flanker Darge said: "Really excited for it. We had last week with no games, so a good amount of time to prep for what is a really big game at Scotstoun.

"I feel like we're in a really good place, all the real hard work's done other than once we get to Friday night.

"We know Stormers are going to be really physical, a really good outfit, so it's a massive challenge to progress to the semis.

"We know what's coming this Friday. I remember the quarter-final last year and the start of the game and the intensity the Stormers brought. We are under no illusion where we need to be mentally on Friday.

"We have to be absolutely aware of what it's going to take from us and where we're going to need to be mentally to compete against these guys because we know they'll have so much attitude and desire."

Dargey, 25, is using his omission from the British and Irish Lions squad to tour Australia this summer as a "motivator".

"If I'm honest, before the announcement, I didn't really have it in my head, I thought the back row is so competitive I didn't think that I was going to be in the squad," he said.

"Then you see your mates get announced and you feel delighted for them but gutted you're not involved in something as special as that. And then it pretty soon turns into a bit of a motivator for me anyway.

"I know how much I put into this game so why should other people get to experience that? I'm not saying that from a negative point of view, it's purely a positive point of view, I was delighted for the guys that are involved and it just was a bit of a motivator for me, really, and something to aspire to."

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"Great asset" Kyle Rowe has much more to give after signing a new two-year deal with Glasgow Warriors, says head coach Franco Smith.

The Scotland winger has become a key part of Smith's side since arriving from London Irish two years ago.

Also comfortable at full-back, the URC title winner has scored 16 tries in 35 games for Glasgow, who host Stormers in the quarter-finals on Friday.

"It was a really straightforward decision for me," Rowe said on his new deal. "I love being part of this club and the group we have here, so it was an easy decision to make.

"The style we play here really suits my game, and I love pulling on the jersey. Everyone here always drives each other forward, and I know we'll take that energy forward into the quarter-final too.

"There's a real buzz about the place ahead of this weekend, because these are the matches that you want to be involved in. Everyone's pulling in the same direction and we want to go do something special as a club once more."

Head coach Smith added: "Kyle is someone who we believe has only scratched the surface of his potential, and his passion for representing both Glasgow Warriors and Scotland is clear to see whenever he takes to the field.

"His ability to cover both wing and full-back is a great asset to us as a squad, as is his innate try-scoring ability and willingness to work without the ball."

With the URC quarter-finals looming this weekend, Edinburgh's Jamie Ritchie and Glasgow's Rory Darge join the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast to talk play-offs, Lions disappointment and more.

Listen and subscribe on BBC Sounds

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Glasgow Warriors have confirmed a further five summer departures as they prepare for the URC quarter-final at home to Stormers on Friday night.

Sebastian Cancelliere, JP du Preez, Sean Kennedy, Facundo Cordero and Logan Trotter will leave at the end of the season along with Henco Venter, Tom Jordan and Jack Mann, whose impending moves to Brive, Bristol and Gloucester respectively had already been confirmed.

Meanwhile, Warriors scrum-half George Horne has urged his side to tap into last season's title success as they look to progress in the play-offs.

"We'd done a lot of losing big games in the past and that kind of probably gave us the experience to work out what was needed to be done to win it last year," said Horne.

"But you can't just expect that to happen again, we've got to make it happen. We've got a good, experienced team now. We've been there and done it, but it's going to have to be done again if we want to keep going further in this competition."

Glasgow won 27-10 at home to Stormers at the same stage last year before securing memorable away victories over Munster and Bulls to claim the silverware.

"We can learn from it, obviously playing the same opposition, but it means nothing in terms of going into this year," Horne said of the upcoming visit from the South Africans. "We've still got to put out a performance this weekend.

"We can't just rest on the laurels of what we did last year. We'll use the experience of winning those tight games, but we know we've got to turn up on Friday if we're going to do it again."

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Wes Goosen is backing Edinburgh to thrive as underdogs and says they take momentum and a "good vibe" into the URC play-offs.

Sean Everitt's side squeezed into the top eight with wins away to Connacht and at home to Ulster in their final two matches.

Now they face a trip to face Bulls in South Africa in the quarter-finals, but full-back Goosen believes his side's late-season form provides plenty of hope.

"I feel like we had a lot to prove and a lot to play for in the last three, four, five weeks, so the momentum's good and there's a good vibe in the camp," the full-back said.

"We've basically been playing finals rugby for the last six, seven weeks. And you get confidence and belief from that as a team, getting close and getting those victories.

"I think it's very dangerous in sport when a team's got a lot of confidence.

"I quite like to be seen as an underdog when people are overconfident, maybe, or just don't take us fully serious.

"But I think we know, as a team, we're getting better. And I think we can definitely compete with the best, we have been shown it."

Edinburgh's previous visit to Bulls ended in a 22-16 defeat last September but they defeated the South Africans 34-28 at home in the Challenge Cup quarter-final last month.

"It's going to be a big task, it's going to be physical, it's going to be tough in the altitude," Goosen said of the trip to Pretoria.

"But we played them here not too long ago and we really dominated the first half.

"If we can do that in their backyard, it's going to be a tough game for them. If we do what we do well, then we can win. We're just going to stay in it and give it our best."

As usual on a Monday, we're giving you the chance to put your burning rugby questions to our reporters, Tom English and Andy Burke.

Whether it's building up to the weekend's games, looking further ahead to the Lions tour or anything else Scottish rugby related, our team are ready.

Send your questions via this link and they'll be answered on this page later on in the week.

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Duhan van der Merwe "has a chance" of returning to action in Edinburgh's URC quarter-final away to Bulls on Saturday, says head coach Sean Everitt.

Scotland's record try-scorer has been sidelined since March after suffering ankle ligament damage, an injury that cast some doubt on whether he would be fit for involvement with the Lions this summer.

Van der Merwe, who had surgery in April, has flown with Edinburgh to his birth-country with a view to being included in the squad for Saturday's last-eight clash in South Africa.

"Duhan will be flying with the team," the head coach said.

"He's got one more training session to get through for his return to play but at the moment he's booked on the flight to Pretoria, and everyone that's on the flight has a chance of being involved in the match 23.

"We have to see how he responds to the flight, like everyone else, and obviously we've got another training session to get through.

"He has been in and out of training last week and he finished a full day of training today, which was a double session, and hopefully he gets through tomorrow.

"Part of his rehabilitation programme is to be ready to return to rugby from a fitness point of view, but it's just the fact that he hasn't been involved in many 15 v 15 sessions, so we're hoping that he can hit the ground running."

Despite his injury, Van der Merwe was selected in Andy Farrell's Lions squad earlier this month and Everitt said the 29-year-old wing is eager to get some game time under his belt for his club before he goes to Australia in the summer.

"I think it's one thing playing for the British and Irish Lions, and the second thing is that every performance that he puts in from now on will help in his selection in the Test team," Everitt added.

"That's the ultimate goal, playing Test rugby for the Lions against Australia. So, yes, he'll be keen to play, but we won't put him on the field if he's not ready."

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Pete Murchie is unfazed by Glasgow's patchy form heading into the URC play-offs because he recalls that they were not at their consistent best before winning the title last year.

The defending champions host Stormers in the quarter-final on Friday after losing four of their last five matches, and each of their last three.

However, defence coach Murchie was quick to point out Warriors lost two of their last three games of the regulation season a year ago before pulling it all together when it mattered most to defeat Stormers, Munster and Bulls and claim the championship.

"We're not in the business of losing games and being happy about it," he said. "But in the last game against Leinster (a 17-5 defeat) we looked a lot more like ourselves, based on the amount of young players we had playing and how we fronted up.

"It was definitely a step forward in terms of performance. Last year, I wouldn't say we were exactly humming in the three or four games before this period, so it is about putting our best quality performance out this weekend."

Glasgow's bid to make an impact in the play-offs has been aided by the return from injury of Lions' call-ups Scott Cummings, Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu in recent weeks.

Captain Tuipulotu, who played the first half against Leinster, "didn't look rusty at all" added Murchie.

"Obviously players who have got experience of having done it before, international players who have played on the bigger stage, he's obviously got massive leadership qualities for us," he said.

"He did pretty well in his 40 minutes against a tough opposition. He didn't look rusty at all, so it's big to have someone of his quality back available for these games."

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Scotland fly-half Finn Russell contributed 17 points with his boot as Bath clinched their first European title in 17 years with a 37-12 win over Lyon in the Challenge Cup final.

Russell kicked three penalties and four conversions for the English Premiership side at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.

The French side opened the scoring with a try, but a Russell penalty set the ball rolling for a commanding victory for Bath, with the Scot also having the final say with the final three points.

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Edinburgh have completed the double signing of young players Charlie McCaig and Ben White.

Centre McCaig, 22, who qualifies for Scotland through his grandfather, joins the senior squad on a two-year deal from Exeter Chiefs while 20-year-old loosehead White moves from Melrose to the pro academy on a 12-month contract.

McCaig made his Exeter debut this season in the Premiership Cup and has been on loan at English Championship side Cornish Pirates, scoring three tries in 19 appearances.

"Edinburgh has always felt like a home away from home, especially with my family living nearby in Fife," he said.

"After speaking with Sean [Everitt], it's clear that our rugby philosophies are closely aligned, which gives me real confidence in what I can offer the team."

White has been capped at Under-17, Under-18 and Under-20 level, helping the latter to World Rugby Trophy success last summer.

Head coach Sean Everitt said: "We are thrilled to welcome both Charlie and Ben to Edinburgh. Both players have had impressive journeys in rugby so far, demonstrating dedication and a real commitment to their development."

BBC Scotland's chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering some of your Scottish rugby questions

Craig asked: Is Sean Everitt the coach to take Edinburgh forward. I'm still very much in the no camp.

Tom answered: It's a harder question to answer now than it might have been a few months ago. Edinburgh made the semi-final of Europe and are now in the quarter-final of the URC, albeit having made very hard work of it.

On the face of it, that's okay. If they were to go to Pretoria and win then that's a landmark victory. I don't rule it out. Edinburgh have a lot more steel to them nowadays and their games with the Bulls tend to be close.

I don't think he's going anywhere in that scenario. I doubt he's going anywhere even if they lose, to be honest.

Everybody will have their own view on this but I think he deserves another season, just to see if the more resilient Edinburgh we're seeing now can start next term the way they're finishing this one.

Alistair asked: Do we chalk down Edinburgh's seventh place in the URC as a disappointment or what we should reasonably expect?

Tom answered: It's disappointing they came so close to exiting the competition, that's for sure.

Seventh is too hairy for a club with Edinburgh's potential. I don't think it's too much to expect them to be a lot closer to fourth (and a home quarter-final) than eighth.

Hopey asked: Are there any young players that might make it on to the summer tour? I take it as given that Freddie Douglas travels.

Tom answered: Yeah, plenty. Freddy Douglas definitely travels. I'd be taking a serious look at Seb Stephen, Mackenzie Duncan, Jare Oguntibeju, Gregor Hiddleston, Alex Samuel, Duncan Munn, Patrick Harrison, Harry Paterson, Ollie Blyth-Lafferty and others. This is the tour for it - part experience, part development.

Ethan asked: What a debut for Seb Stephen, going to the Aviva holding his own against a current and former Lion! Could Stephen have played himself into the matchday 23 for Glasgow's quarter-final?

Tom answered: I suspect Franco Smith will go with his experienced hookers, but I might be wrong.

Stephen's outstanding performance against the best team in the league will give him plenty to think about, though. He nailed his throws and had a real physicality and intensity to him.

I was kinda gobsmacked, to be honest. He was up against Dan Sheehan, arguably the best hooker in the world. He was throwing against RG Snyman and James Ryan in the Leinster lineout - a World Cup winner and a 2025 Lion. For a 19-year-old, it was as good a debut as I've seen.

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Scotland back-row Matt Fagerson is vowing "to keep pushing and keep developing" after signing a contract extension that will keep the 26-year-old at Glasgow Warriors for another three years.

Fagerson has been with the Scotstoun club since 2016 and made his international debut in 2018.

He has scored 24 tries in 126 appearances for Glasgow and his tally of Scotland caps now stands at 55.

"I really want to push myself and win more trophies, not only with Glasgow but for Scotland as well," Fagerson told the Warriors' website., external "I know I've got more to give and more levels I want to reach in my own game.

"I came in here with a lot of ambition but possibly lacking in physical ability or rugby smarts, and this club has shaped me into the person and player I am today.

"I'm nowhere near the finished article, though – I want to keep pushing on and keep developing in all aspects of my game.

"The [United Rugby Championship] title win in Pretoria last season is obviously right up at the top in terms of highlights from my time here so far – the manner in which we did it and the group that we did it with was something I'll remember for the rest of my life."

Head Coach Franco Smith added: "Matt's pride at representing this club shines through in each of his performances.

"His ability to play across the back-row is a valuable asset to our squad, whilst his ball-carrying ability allows him to provide a true point of difference whenever he is on the field.

"He is a role model to our young Scottish forwards coming through our academy system, and we look forward to working closely with him over the next few years."

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Glasgow Warriors will kick off the 2025-26 URC season at home to South African side Sharks on Friday 26 September, while Edinburgh open with a trip to face Zebre in Parma the following day.

Edinburgh's first home game comes in week two against Ulster as Glasgow head to Treviso to tackle Benetton.

The 1872 Cup derby between the Scottish sides is to be staged at Hampden Park and Murrayfield on 20 and 27 December respectively.

Three of Glasgow's final four fixtures are on the road, with a South Africa double-header against Lions and Stormers followed by Cardiff at Scotstoun and Ulster away.

Edinburgh's South Africa trip comes in March before they end the campaign with home games against Zebre and Sharks, a trip to face Dragons and Connacht at the Hive.

The competition format remains unchanged, with the top eight progressing to the play-offs, which start on 29 May. The semi-finals take place on 6 June and the final is on 20 June.

Glasgow's 2025-26 fixtures: Sharks (H) 26 Sept; Benetton (A) 4 Oct; Dragons (H) 11 Oct; Opspreys (A) 18 Oct; Bulls (H) 24 Oct; Scarlets (A) 29 Nov; Edinburgh (H) 20 Dec; Edinburgh (A) 27 December; Zebre (H) 3 Jan; Zebre (A) 24 Jan; Munster (H) 30 Jan; Connacht (A) 28 Feb; Leinster (H) 21 Mar; Benetton (H) 27 Mar; Lions (A) 18 Apr; Stormers (A) 25 Apr; Cardiff (H) 8 May; Ulster (A) 15 May.

Edinburgh's 2025-26 fixtures: Zebre (A) 27 Sept; Ulster (H) 3 Oct; Munster (A) 10 Oct; Benetton (H) 17 Oct; Cardiff (A) 25 Oct; Ospreys (H) 29 Nov; Glasgow (A) 20 Dec; Glasgow (H) 27 Dec; Benetton (A) 3 Jan; Bulls (H) 23 Jan; Leinster (A) 31 Jan; Scarlets (H) 27 Feb; Lions (A) 21 Mar; Stormers (A) 28 Mar; Zebre (H) 17 Apr; Sharks (H) 24 Apr; Dragons (A) 9 May; Connacht (H) 15 May.