Scottish Rugby

Edinburgh fans, what are your thoughts on the performance in the Challenge Cup win over Bayonne?

Have your say on the game here.

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Edinburgh's Challenge Cup clash with Bayonne has been moved to Murrayfield due to strong winds from Storm Kathleen.

Club officials have met with the MET office with a yellow weather warning in place, saying the change of venue gives the game "the best chance to go ahead".

Supporters have also been warned to prepare for travel disruption.

Edinburgh Rugby Managing Director, Douglas Struth, said: “The safety of our fans, players, and people is paramount. Unfortunately, Storm Kathleen and the worsening weather forecast has meant that the only way to now play this match safely and securely is in the bigger main bowl at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.

"We’re obviously very disappointed not to be playing in our home, Hive Stadium, but I hope that people will understand.

“We know our fans love Hive Stadium, and the atmosphere we’ve built there over the past two seasons is second to none, but I’d encourage all our supporters to bring that same passion and energy to the main bowl this evening.

Glasgow fans, what were your thoughts on the Warriors' performance in their Champions Cup defeat to Harlequins?

Have your say on the game here.

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Sean Everitt praised 23-year-old Jake Henry, who will make his third start in a row in the game against Bayonne after impressing the Edinburgh head coach.

After overcoming some major injuries in the early part of his career, the winger scored in his Edinburgh debut against Stormers last month.

"It’s very pleasing for us that we’re able to bring him through our academy system," Everitt said. "It’s been a difficult time for Jake over the last few years. He’s got a third opportunity to start in an Edinburgh jersey, which will help towards his growth.

"It’s great that a guy can get three games in a row to build confidence at this level. So, I’m happy for him and obviously have been happy with the performances that he’s put in."

Edinburgh could see a debutant come off the bench in the form of Mikey Jones. Everitt said the former Scotland U18s prop is a credit to the club's academy system.

"It’s credit to our academy system and the work that Mikey has put in himself. Last year’s World Cup gave him the opportunity to train and scrum against the senior players.

"He’s worked hard on his conditioning and we feel that he’s ready now to have a shot, although we do have injuries in that position."

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Engaging with young people is "one of the biggest issues" facing rugby says Scottish Rugby chairman John McGuigan.

McGuigan says the Six Nations showdown against France "wasn't a good advert for rugby" as people want to be entertained.

"The rules are incredibly complicated," McGuigan said. "People come along, pay their money and want to be entertained. Look at what happened at the end of the France game - that was not entertainment.

"Nobody could understand what the hell was going on, why that wasn’t a try, and yet there was no explanation given."

McGuigan believes the game needs to be "more immediate" and "understandable" for fans.

"You’ve got the breakdown between what you’re doing for your new fan versus what you’re doing for the fan who's already bought into it but have not spent their whole life playing rugby so they’re involved but could easily drop off and go and do something else.

"It’s about trying to be imaginative and trying to make the game more relevant and more immediate for people, and more understandable.

"So, things like the laws of the game, are there things we could do to simplify it without destroying the game at the same time.

“I think the answer is not clear but the problem is well defined, and it’s how we deal with that. Getting more folk playing at grassroots level is key to that.”

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Scotland co-captain Finn Russell and winger Duhan van der Merwe have been named in this year's fan-selected Six Nations Team of the Championship.

Van der Merwe is the joint top try-scorer of the tournament with five scores, alongside Dan Sheehan.

Russell scored 22 out of 23 of his kicks (96%) and is the only player to make two successful 50/22 kicks.

Ireland dominated the team, external, with eight players featured.

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Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt has said that there is "healthy competition" among the squad ahead of their Challenge Cup clash against Bayonne.

Back row Luke Crosbie returns to the squad for the first time since before the Six Nations.

"He’s been chomping at the bit to get back on the field," Everitt said. "Obviously injuries are never a good thing to happen, especially where he was at that particular stage.

"He’s got big competition ahead of him now - Bill Mata is playing well, Jamie Ritchie had probably one of his better games against the Sharks last Saturday and then Hamish Watson is in the form of his life.

"So, it’s healthy competition, but at the same time Luke does bring a wealth of experience and leadership to our group, especially coming off the bench when maybe some of the senior players have been taken off.”

Everitt discussed competition in the squad for the final stretch of games in the season, and praised Connor Boyle for making the most of his opportunities in the side.

"The motivation for us is that we’ve put ourselves into contention for play-off places," the South African said. "The next five rounds of the URC plus what’s left of the EPCR are all going to be treated the same. So, internal motivation is to try and be in the starting 15 from week to week."

"In certain positions where there has been competition, players have stood up. Every time Boyle has come on the field, he’s put on a good show - you only have to look back at the Dragons game as far as that’s concerned.

"It is healthy, and I think what’s most important is that everyone is getting an opportunity on the field. Although it might not be from Saturday to Saturday, certainly everyone has had a decent run of games."

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Edinburgh co-captain Grant Gilchrist returns to the starting XV as one of three changes ahead of their Challenge Cup clash against Bayonne.

The second-rower starts ahead of Jamie Hodgson while at the front of the pack Luan de Bruin receives his first start of the season with Pierre Schoeman unavailable through concussion.

Mark Bennett returns from his concussion to join Matt Currie in the midfield ahead of Chris Dean.

Mikey Jones could make his Edinburgh debut from the bench if called upon and Luke Crosbie could make his first appearance since his shoulder injury in the Six Nations.

Edinburgh: Goosen, Henry, Bennett, Currie, Van der Merwe, Healy, Vellacott (CC); de Bruin, Ashman, Nel, Skinner, Gilchrist (CC), Ritchie, Watson, Mata

Replacements: Cherry, Jones, Rae, Hodgson, Crosbie, Price, Lang, Dean

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Glasgow Warriors' George Turner is set for a long spell on the sidelines after an sustaining an injury on Six Nations duty.

Ahead of Glasgow's clash against Harlequins, head coach Franco Smith revealed the Scotland hooker could be out for six to eight weeks, or "even longer".

"He had a scan about 10 days ago and they found a little hair fracture there in his foot," Smith said. "He played the last game against Ireland with that foot already injured, so it’s going to take a while before we see him.

"Six to eight weeks and can be even longer. It is all on how he reacts to treatment that shortens or lengthens the time, which is the same with Huw Jones (who is out with a finger injury)."

Smith also provided an update on Sebastian Cancelliere who was injured in last weekend's game against Scarlets.

He revealed that the winger should be back in a matter of weeks rather than months as it is just a "bone bruise".

Unfortunately for Glasgow fans it will be a while yet before Richie Gray returns to the team sheet as the head coach wants him "in the best form going forward".

"If it’s about return to play, then maybe. But if it’s about return to form then I think we’re still a slight distance away.

"He’s an older player now and I don’t want to risk injury towards the end of the season, and in that role specifically having JP du Preez already injured.

"Yes, we want him back as soon as we can but not to the detriment of his health. We want him in his best form going forward."

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When Glasgow face Harlequins in the last 16 of the Champions Cup on Friday, one key battle could occur out wide.

Louis Lynagh and Kyle Rowe have already faced off once this season. Back in early March, Lynagh scored on his Italy debut, as Rowe and Scotland were defeated at the Stadio Olimpico.

Rowe has bounced back well from that disappointment though, lighting up the URC in recent weeks and even crossing for a hat-trick last time out against Scarlets.

He now has 10 tries this season across league and European action, and has backed up his attacking flair well in defence, making 91% of his tackles in the URC.

Lynagh too is a potent threat. He has crossed six times for Quins this season, and averages 6.4m with every carry he makes. However, his defensive stats aren't quite as impressive as Rowe's, making 70.9% of his tackles.

It will be interesting to see how these wingers face off on Friday evening, and whoever gets the upper hand could go a long way to helping their team reach the quarter-finals.

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Edinburgh flanker Hamish Watson will continue his long association with the club, after extending his contract for another season.

The 32-yer-old joined Edinburgh in 2011 and has made over 150 appearances in that time, while also representing Scotland and the British and Irish Lions.

Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt said: “We’re delighted to keep Hamish here at the club. His on-field contribution is there for all to see – he’s a relentless competitor and gives 100% every time he takes to the field for club and country.

“Playing the way he does takes a huge amount of thankless and unheralded work behind the scenes in training and preparation. He sets an exceptionally high standard for everyone at the club every day.

“He’s the type of player any coach or fan would be delighted to have at their club, and I’m sure wouldn’t have been short of suitors, so we’re delighted he’s staying on.”

Watson himself said: "Edinburgh Rugby is my club and Edinburgh is my home – I couldn’t see myself playing anywhere else at this point in my career.

“This is the club where I’ve grown up and I was immensely proud to reach 150 appearances for the team earlier this season.

“As I’ve always said, I want to win silverware for this club. We know we have the squad to do it, and a brilliant home and fanbase at Hive Stadium, it’s now just about believing we can take the next steps to lift trophies.”

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Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith says he wouldn't have selected Sione Tuipulotu to face Harlequins in the Champions Cup on Friday unless he was "ready to perform".

The Scotland centre is one of five changes to the Glasgow side that coasted past Scarlets last weekend, having rapidly recovered from a knee injury picked up against England in the Six Nations.

Tuipulotu was expected to miss between two and three months of action, but will return after just five weeks.

"He slightly exceeded expectations," Smith said. "I was reluctant to involve him if he was not going to be the best version of himself.

“I wasn't forced to pick him. I didn't feel the need to pick him. I think the [other centres] are doing a great job.

"I can be honestly proud in the way that our [strength and conditioning] and our medical team go about their business. To have him ready to perform as well instead of just return to play is excellent."

Glasgow XV to face Harlequins: McKay, Steyn (C), McDowall, Tuipulotu, Rowe, Jordan, Horne; McBeth, Matthews, Z Fagerson, Williamson, Cummings, M Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey.

Replacements: Hiddleston, Kebble, Sordoni, Manjezi, Miller, Venter, Dobie, Weir.

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

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Scottish Rugby chairman John McGuigan "wouldn't be against" Scotland playing their Autumn Nations Test against Portugal at a home venue other than Murrayfield, in an attempt to attract fans from across the country.

Scotland last played a home Test match away from Murrayfield in 2016, when they comfortably beat Georgia at Rugby Park.

“I don’t see any issue why not," McGuigan said, when asked about the possibility of taking Scotland on the road. "I certainly wouldn’t be against it.

"If it would help our supporter base be as extensive as it can be then we should do that."

McGuigan added they would have to weigh up the economic implications of a smaller crowd, but stressed Scottish Rugby want to engage as many people as possible.

“We are trying to grow the game, and economics are always going to be a part of how we are going to do it; the principle of ‘can you get the game out there and can you get more people seeing it?’ is, I think, a very good one.

“I think it is a good suggestion, we should take it away and think about it, because having that opportunity to see people closer to your home is a good thing.”

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

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Scottish Rugby must "continue to invest" if the women's game is to keep improving, chairman John McGuigan says.

Scotland's women have steadily improved since handing out full-time professional contracts for the first time in 2022, and had won seven matches in a row before last weekend's loss to France in the Women's Six Nations.

McGuigan insists that development can continue, but only if the women's game is funded properly.

“The key for us in the short term is how we excite more sponsorship into the women’s game," he said.

"You can argue that the women’s game is more attractive to sponsors than the men’s game to some degree in terms of the values and what it represents.

“It’s incumbent on us to find the money to allow the women’s game to grow. We certainly should not follow the path of the men’s game - that has developed over a long period - we should look at the women’s game as a unique product in its own right and how best to nurture that.

“I think we’ve made strides in the Scottish women’s game, but nobody else is standing still.

“We need to continue to invest. The task that I have, the board, the the chief exec, will be finding the sponsorship for a period of time, because the crowds are not going to offset the costs, so we can ensure we make the level of investment that we should.

“The thing I really enjoyed [against France] was the players didn’t come into the changing room for about an hour afterwards because they were standing talking to the crowds and signing autographs.

“I think we could do a lot more in the story of ‘How did I get here?’ We’ve started to do that with the men’s game through Netflix and things: we’ve got a bigger opportunity to bring that to life on the women’s side much quicker.

"Start to explore who the people are that you see on the pitch on a day-to-day basis and create personalities who can connect with the audience in a way that the men’s game has taken a very long time to identify as important.

“And how do we cater for a different type of supporter? Maybe it’s the first time they’ve come to a rugby match, so how do you present it to them?

“We’re starting from a different place. We’ve learned a lot from the men’s game: how do you take the best of that but then align it to how you want the women’s game to evolve?”

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Saracens have agreed to sign Crusaders fly-half Fergus Burke, who is both Scottish and English-qualified, on a deal to begin this summer.

The former New Zealand Under-20 international comes in as Owen Farrell prepares to leave the club for Racing 92 at the end of the season.

Reports suggested the SRU saw Burke as a potential successor to fly-half Finn Russell, with Glasgow Warriors previously linked with the 24-year-old.

He remains eligible to represent Scotland despite his move, but having missed out to England on another Scottish-qualified 10 recently in Fin Smith, Gregor Townsend may fear the worst.

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Scotland scrum half Jenny Maxwell believes Scotland need a more confident attack to put up a good performance against England in the Six Nations and must be wary of their "clinical and dangerous" opponents.

England have blown away their opposition in their opening two games of the tournament, scoring 48 and 46 points against Italy and Wales respectively.

Scotland meanwhile defeated Wales 20-18 before a 15-5 loss to France.

"I want to see Scotland attack a little bit more," Maxwell told the BBC Radio Scotland Rugby Podcast. "Against Wales, we did see that they were getting more carries over the game line, which was making it a bit easier to attack.

"We looked good and we did create some space when we kept ball in hand, but we maybe weren't expecting that and opted to kick instead.

"I think they need to keep building on what they've been doing and just a little bit of accuracy because England will punish Scotland if we are inaccurate. They're so clinical and so dangerous."

Scotland prop Heather Lockhart and scrum-half Jenny Maxwell join Thomas Duncan to discuss Scotland's upcoming game against England in the Women's Six Nations plus they look back on Scotland's performance against France.

Listen to the episode in full here.

Sandy Smith
Fan writer

There is no way to dress it up, Edinburgh’s South African sojourn was an unmitigated disaster.

Zero points from the 10 available and the outcome is that we now sit outside the URC's top eight. However, there are still five games to go in the league campaign and there remains a chance to do what Sean Everitt targeted at the start of the season - qualify for the knockout phase of the URC.

The problem is, and I know I’m not alone in expressing this, it doesn't look like we have any kind of coherent game plan. That can’t be true because surely a professional coaching outfit will have formulated a playing strategy but whatever ours is, it doesn’t seem to survive first contact with the ball, never mind the opposition.

There’s little time to dwell on that now as the Challenge Cup is back this weekend and we take on Bayonne at the Hive.

Bayonne are currently ninth in the Top 14 but are only four points above the relegation zone. They may be slightly distracted by that and haven’t won away from home at all this season.

We sometimes save our best for European competition, to a degree anyway, so with luck that’s the Edinburgh we will see this weekend and maybe that will be the proverbial kick up the backside we need for the rest of this season.

We are clinging on for dear life at the moment and our fingernails are bent to the point of being torn out by the root, but there is still hope.

Sandy Smith can be found on The Burgh Watch, external.