Scottish Rugby

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

Michael asked: Winning the URC last season was a remarkable achievement. However, is Nigel Carolan realistic in his assertion that Glasgow are genuine contenders for the Champions Cup?

Tom answered: I think he's right to see Glasgow in that way. There's a smallish group of clubs that win it and Glasgow, with the luck of the draw, are among that group. Maybe at the bottom of it, but in there nonetheless.

Clearly, Blair Kinghorn's Toulouse are red-hot favourites. You have Johnny Gray's Bordeaux and La Rochelle as well from France. I thought Bath would go far but they've lost both of their games so far. Northampton and Harlequins have a chance.

Glasgow definitely belong in that company. The squad is very strong and they have players to come back from injury as well. Home advantage will be absolutely key.

Keith asked: Should Franco Smith be making discrete inquiries about the availability of Harry Byrne after his medical joker stint with Bristol is finished, and would David Nuicifora be on board with the acquisition of a non-Scottish qualified player?

Tom answered: It's still painful to think of how Glasgow let Tom Jordan slip away from them. A colossal misstep from the Warriors.

Byrne is probably fourth choice at Leinster, hence his short-term move to Bristol. I'm not so sure about him and, as you mention, I'm not at all convinced Nucifora would sanction a move for him.

I suspect Nucifora is really going to tighten the rules around recruitment of non-Scottish qualified players. That'll be a good thing for the pathway structure but it's going to cause Franco Smith and Sean Everitt some angst, if it happens.

I wouldn't go for Byrne and I doubt they'll be a major signing because they can't afford it. I'd like to have a look at Richie Simpson and any other young ones on the periphery…

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Scotland prop D'Arcy Rae has signed a two-year extension to his contract at Edinburgh.

The 30-year-old joined up in October 2023 following a short-term deal with Montpellier after being released by Bath.

Rae had spent eight years with Glasgow Warriors from 2013, earning his debut Scotland cap against Ireland in the 2019 Six Nations.

After a long wait, his second international appearance came as a replacement in November's 57-17 win over Fiji at Murrayfield.

"He showed massive improvement in pre-season and it's great that he's been motivated enough to achieve his goal of playing for Scotland again," Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt told BBC Scotland.

"We're very happy for him and, for the club, he's going to bring success for us."

Rae is "really chuffed" to extend his stay and added: "At the start of the season I made the decision to properly commit to this city and this great club.

"I've moved east, made Edinburgh my home and I feel like a full pre-season is paying dividends. I'm in great shape and feel really confident every time I take the field."

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Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith has made five changes to the side beaten by Edinburgh at Murrayfield for Friday's Champions Cup clash with Racing 92.

Rory Sutherland and Johnny Matthews come into the front row, replacing Jamie Bhatti and Gregor Hiddleston, while flanker Rory Darge replaces Ally Miller.

In the backs, George Horne is preferred to Jamie Dobie at scrum-half and Josh McKay returns from injury on the wing with Kyle Rowe dropping out.

A win for Glasgow will secure their places in the knockout stages of the competition.

"We know that Racing will pose a tough test for our opening match of the New Year, and we must be ready to meet the challenge they will present," Smith said.

"They have a squad full of physical forwards and talented backs, and can cause problems for any side in Europe on their day."

Glasgow XV to face Racing 92: McKay, Cancelliere, Jones, Tuipulotu, Steyn, Jordan, Horne; Sutherland, Matthews, Z. Fagerson, Brown, Cumming, M. Fagerson, Darge, Mann.

Replacements: Hiddleston, Bhatti, Talakai, Samuel, Miller, Ferrie, Dobie, Weir.

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

In the sprint that is the modern Champions Cup, Glasgow hit the three-quarter mark of their pool campaign on Friday night when they host Racing 92, the style-over-substance champions of the global game.

Glasgow need to win, not just to stay in pole position for a place in the last 16, but to give themselves a best chance of a home draw, which is critical.

This is a contest between a club that has grown organically into something special and another club that is funded by a billionaire, Jacky Lorenzetti. The real estate magnet has been shovelling cash into Racing for the best part of 20 years and, pitifully, he has one trophy to show for it, the Top 14 title of 2016.

They have an all-star cast of coaches. Stuart Lancaster, who did such stellar work at Leinster, is head coach. Frederic Michalak, winner of six European Cups and 77 caps for France, is backs coach. Dimitri Szarzewski, 83 caps for France and a double Top 14 champion, is forwards coach. Joe Rokocoko, one of the greatest All Black try scorers of all time, is skills coach.

They play in one of the most jaw-dropping rugby stadiums in the world. Costing a reported £300m, La Defense Arena is a thing of wonder. And yet they have one of the lowest average crowds in their league.

In 15 seasons in the top flight they have won one final and lost six semi-finals. Never have they finished top in the league phase and they won't be doing that this season either.

Currently, they sit ninth, an embarrassment brought on by spending a reported million a season on Owen Farrell plus a bundle on Gael Fickou, which has left them light in too many areas of the pitch. In nine away games, they have lost seven, which is good news for Glasgow.

One of their greatest sons, the hooker Camille Chat, has just left the club after allegedly turning up drunk for training. A few months back, Lorenzetti virtually chased the great Siya Kolisi out with some insulting words about his contribution.

Kolisi was just the latest in a series of expensive galacticos - Johnny Sexton (Johnny Cash, as his team-mate Jamie Roberts called him), Dan Carter, Finn Russell and current incumbent Farrell.

And that's just the fly-halves. Lorenzetti's Hollywood transfer policy has extended far beyond one position over the years and yet proper success has eluded him. That line about the fur coat applies.

Glasgow add a little foreign gold to a squad that's already grown from within and they have one of the great cultures in the URC. Racing do it the other way around and it hasn't worked.

Lorenzetti's money has got them to three Champions Cup finals, but they've lost all three. Last season they scraped into the play-offs as 16th and bottom seed and duly got knocked out. The season before they didn't even make the last 16.

And now comes news that Lorenzetti may have had enough. It appears the man with the bottomless pit of cash is calling for a reduction in the salary cap of the Top 14 clubs in France. The big-spending poacher is attempting to become the cautious gamekeeper. The irony is lost on nobody in French rugby.

Glasgow could only dream of the riches Racing have burned their way through in the Lorenzetti era. Warriors lost two of their finest players to Racing, of course. Russell and Leone Nakarawa both played there directly after leaving Glasgow, their pockets bulging, if not their trophy cabinet.

Racing remain a club that inspires fascination but not admiration. In terms of glamour, they win.

In terms of everything that actually matters - talent and grunt, cohesion and hunger - Glasgow should have too much for them. Scotstoun ain't La Defense, but it's a whole lot harder to breach.

Image source, Getty Images

Grant Young
Fan writer

Champions Cup week has a different vibe to it. Group chats are a bit more active and there seems to be more of a buzz. A match against French side Racing 92 brings a bit of razzmatazz, and regardless of the freezing temperatures forecast, the quality of the rugby on show should heat up the spectators.

Glasgow travelled to France to face Toulon in the last round of European fixtures and came away with points despite the 30-29 loss. With Warriors now at home, they are favourites to win and secure their passage into the knockout stages of the competition.

While Glasgow are on an upward curve under Franco Smith, the opposite could be said for Racing, who are ninth in the Top 14 and delivering some underwhelming performances.

It will be interesting to see which of their high-profile players make the trip to Glasgow, while it remains to be seen how strong a line-up Smith will name amid a spate of injuries.

It's a big couple of weeks for players with the Six Nations looming and spots up for grabs. I'm hoping to see Gregor Hiddleston picked by Gregor Townsend. The hooker has been tremendous in recent fixtures and I felt it was harsh he missed out on involvement during the Autumn Nations Series.

Tom English and Andy Burke discuss audience questions and comments as they take a look at the year ahead for Scottish Rugby.

Is it now or never for Scotland in the Six Nations? Is Scottish Rugby on a firm financial footing? What can we expect from Glasgow and Edinburgh in 2025?

Listen on BBC Sounds.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Glasgow Warriors and Scotland centre Huw Jones says he wants to "lay down a marker" this week in the Champions Cup for what he hopes will be a huge year with club and country.

Warriors welcome Racing 92 to Scotstoun on Friday knowing a win will secure their passage into the knockout phase of Europe's elite competition.

The significance of the next few fixtures is not lost on the Scotland back, who has recovered well after needing hand surgery last year on a finger injury.

"It's obviously a massive game this week," he said. "Winning the games in the middle of the season really tells, especially in the league.

"We're in a good position in the Champions Cup at the moment. We've got seven points from the first two games and a big opportunity this week at home to lay down a marker and hopefully get a big win."

Jones feels improved away form has been the key to Warriors' recent progress under head coach Franco Smith. The reigning URC champions are now out to prove they are genuine contenders for European rugby's top prize.

"We showed last year by winning the league that we can win tough games, especially on the road," he added. "That was maybe an issue for us in previous seasons, especially in the Champions Cup.

"We may have to go away if we make it into the play-offs so these are really important games that we're looking forward to. We have an ambition to go far in this competition.

"You have to go for it in these competitions, you have to take risks. That's what we'll be doing."

Warriors go to Harlequins after the Racing clash, before welcoming Connacht to Scotstoun in the URC at the end of the month.

After that, eyes turn towards the Six Nations, with Scotland kicking off their campaign at Murrayfield on 1 February against Italy.

Jones is targeting success on the international stage as well as at club level.

"We've got a big opportunity in this Six Nations. We've been building for a few years but it's about time we string a few big wins together," the 31-year-old said.

"That's probably the nearest goal for me personally - to get into the Scotland squad and then play well there."

Sandy Smith
Fan writer

With Gloucester hosting Scarlets on Friday night Edinburgh will go into Saturday's game against Vannes on the Brittany coast knowing what is required to keep their Challenge Cup campaign on track.

There are a number of different scenarios but an Edinburgh win in France this weekend will in all likelihood see us go into the game against Black Lion on the last weekend of the group stages in top spot.

Despite the fact four of the six teams in each pool qualify for the round of 16 it's still desirable to finish in first place as that will guarantee a home draw all the way to the semi-final.

Vannes, in their first European campaign, will fancy their chances despite a difficult introduction to life in the Top 14 that sees them bottom after 14 games. They have three wins in the league as well as a home victory against Gloucester in the second round of the Challenge Cup. By all accounts it is a proud rugby town and Stade de la Rabine is apparently on course to be an 11,000 sellout for the game.

The obstacles in our way include that it's not easy to win away at French clubs and our own predisposition to follow good performances with average or downright poor ones.

We have managed the first of these hurdles with recent wins against Pau and more recently Castres, two sides a fair way up the Top14 ladder this season. However, we've also come up short across the Channel a few times, with losses to Clermont last season and a heavy one to Racing 92 a few years before that.

The seemingly fluctuating form of this Edinburgh side is a bit harder to predict but I'm currently feeling pretty optimistic that it's the hard-working version we will see this weekend and that the words Grant Gilchrist used when presenting Dave Cherry with his 100th cap - about seeing the care for the club every week - won't have faded since that post-Christmas win at Murrayfield.

A decent finish in the URC isn't beyond this team but that fluctuating form may yet be our undoing in that arena. I hope therefore that we select as strong a side as possible for this game as the Challenge Cup offers probably the best route to glory we have this year.

Sandy Smith can be found at The Burgh Watch, external

As we enter a mammoth year for Scottish rugby, we are offering you the chance to throw questions at our rugby writers Tom English and Andy Burke.

Send them in via this link, external and they will be answered on this page later in the week.

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Wolfhounds: (36) 48

Tries: Djougang, Corrigan 3, King 2, O'Dowd, Higgins Cons: O'Brien 4

Glasgow Warriors (0) 7

Try: Tucker Con: McNamara

Wolfhounds got back to winning ways in the Celtic Challenge with a 48-7 victory against Glasgow Warriors at Kingspan Stadium.

After losing against Clovers last time out, Wolfhounds raced into an early lead as Stacey Flood offloaded to Linda Djougang, who crossed with Dannah O'Brien converting.

The home team got their second try after 14 minutes as patient build-up play allowed Flood to find Katie Corrigan out wide to touch down and O'Brien added the extras from the tee.

Erin King then crashed over twice, Niamh O'Dowd bustled her way through and Corrigan registered another to stretch Wolfhounds' lead before half-time.

Corrigan completed her hat-trick soon after the restart, dotting down in the corner.

Glasgow were much improved in the second half and got their first and only try after 55 minutes when captain Ailie Tucker bundled over with Briar McNamara kicking the conversion.

Eve Higgins darted through a gap to score Wolfhounds' eighth and final try to round off the victory.

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Celtic Challenge: Edinburgh v Brython Thunder

Edinburgh (17) 22

Tries: Taganekurukuru, Walker, Bell 2 Con: MacRae

Brython Thunder (0) 17

Tries: Lane, Bluck 2

Edinburgh held off a Brython Thunder fightback at Hive Stadium to secure their second victory in as many Celtic Challenge matches.

First-half tries from Sam Taganekurukuru, Hannah Walker and Cieron Bell gave the hosts a commanding half-time lead, before Hannah Lane hit back for the Welsh side after the break.

Bell then crossed for her second try to keep Thunder at arms-length and secure Edinburgh a try-scoring bonus point.

Two tries from Thunder centre Hannah Bluck gave the visitors hope, but Edinburgh held on to take all five points.

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

And so begins a mammoth year for rugby. A Six Nations where Scotland might finally do something, a women's World Cup with the improving Scots daring to dream of a strong tournament, a Lions tour that might feature a record number of Scots.

Professional rugby is such unpredictable terrain that only the terminally unwise would dare predict things.

Mercifully, such a hostage to fortune and glutton for punishment is at hand. To hell with the fence-setters. Here's what's going to happen in 2025. Possibly, maybe.

France to host Scotland in Grand Slam showdown

Yes, we enjoyed our Christmas and Hogmanay and, yes again, the drink might be talking here, but hang on…

Scotland play Italy first at home. Given that Italy beat Scotland in Rome last season this is no gimme, but Gregor Townsend's team will start with a win, however tight.

Next, another home game, against Ireland. The head-to-head makes grisly reading for Scotland, but Ireland's hold over them has to end sometime. There's no Andy Farrell at the helm this time - he's away preparing for the Lions - and they'll miss him.

Ireland, the champions, had an indifferent autumn. There are doubts about their lineout, their high number of handling errors and their poor points return. They're not vintage right now. Scotland are good enough to make it two from two if their nerve holds.

England away. They're not winning and still look a team in transition. Scotland's backline to storm Twickenham again. Three from three.

Wales at home in round four. Incredibly hard to see how Scotland would lose that if they've won the previous three. Grand Slam showdown in Paris, then.

France will win because they're just too good, but second would be an all-time high in the Six Nations for Scotland. You'd take it now.

Scotland to win three games in Women's Six Nations for first time since 2005

They came close last season, going to Ireland on the final day with a record of two from four, only to lose somewhat unexpectedly. It was a near miss as was their bid to retain the WXV2 title.

This is an improving team, though, with a good age profile and some proper threat out the back line. Beat Wales and Italy at home, as they'd expect to, and they have Ireland at home on the final weekend. Three wins would be a big breakthrough.

Glasgow to face Leinster in URC final

Leinster are top at the turn of the year and Glasgow are second. Now, there's no guarantee the form guide carries on all the way to the final. Glasgow finished fourth in the league phase last season and Munster finished fifth when they won the trophy the year before.

Leinster and Glasgow look the strongest, though. Glasgow could have a home quarter-final and semi-final, but if Leinster make the final then they'll most likely be hosts.

Leinster v Glasgow would be a sensational final. Leinster would be favourites to win, but it would be a mighty battle.

Edinburgh to make URC play-offs

Considering the quality of their squad it should be a given every year, but it isn't. The win over Glasgow at Murrayfield was a sign of life. They probably don't have the consistency to make top four, so it'll be an away quarter-final. Their away record remains awful, so that's where their run is likely to end.

Near misses in Europe

They should reach the knockouts of Champions Cup and Challenge Cup, but everything from there depends on seeding and luck of the draw.

Glasgow can go far if they avoid an away trip to the biggest hitters in France. A first Champions Cup semi-final is within their grasp. Edinburgh need home advantage. Without it, they'll bow out in the Challenge Cup last 16 or more likely, the last eight.

David Nucifora to make big call

Would it be a shock if the new performance director announced a ban on non-Scottish qualified signings for Glasgow and Edinburgh, save for exceptional circumstances? Not especially. He did it in Ireland. He wants to give homegrown players every chance and that's one way of doing it. Glasgow and Edinburgh may not like it.

Kinghorn to do double double with Toulouse

Having won the Top14 and the Champions Cup in his first season with Toulouse there is every chance Blair Kinghorn will repeat it in his second. Toulouse are a wondrous force. Hard to see anybody stopping them.

World Cup women to meet England

Bryan Easson's team are second seeds in their pool behind Canada. Beating the Canadians would be a very tall order, so a quarter-final against England looks the more likely outcome. Getting out of that one with pride intact will be all the Scots can hope for. England are massive favourites to win the tournament in their own backyard.

Ten Scottish Lions in Australia

The certainties: Blair Kinghorn, Sione Tuipulotu, Huw Jones, Finn Russell, Pierre Schoeman and Zander Fagerson. The probable: Duhan van der Merwe. The possibles: pretty much everybody else in a first-choice Scotland. The bolter: Tom Jordan, there aren't many utility backs as good as him.

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Glasgow fly-half Duncan Weir and operations manager John Manson join Andy Burke on the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast to relive Warriors' journey to URC glory in the 2023-24 season.

Listen on BBC Sounds

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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The 1872 Cup derby double-header has highlighted a welcome headache for Gregor Townsend as Scotland's Six Nations opener against Italy looms next month.

Edinburgh were impressive in their second-leg win over Glasgow, but world-class wings Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham were again painfully underutilised.

The best we saw of Van der Merwe involved squashing Kyle Rowe and Sebastian Cancelliere in quick succession, a rare showing of his defensive game.

However, there was an impeccably-timed return for Kyle Steyn, as he came back from injury to play a key part in the first leg and Glasgow's enormous victory which ultimately proved enough to retain the trophy.

Three world-class options await Townsend come the Six Nations, if they can all stay fit. How on earth does he pick between them?

Van der Merwe and Graham both have the flair and X-factor that Townsend likes, but Steyn brings more stability and bags of leadership. He also knows what it feels like to win silverware and drag his team over the line.

A good headache for the national coach to have, but a headache nonetheless.

Sandy Smith
Fan writer

It is a huge cliche but being an Edinburgh supporter is like riding a rollercoaster.

The lows are Mariana Trench-like at times. The highs can sometimes be a bit more like that wee stool you buy for your 3-year-old to stand on during toilet training.

However the gap between those two opposites still means that when something good happens, you can enjoy it especially when it involves confounding the "we'll win by five tries" expectations of your oldest rivals.

Funnily enough the only folk complaining about it being a boring game are also the same folk who are suddenly more interested in the 'Inter-City Cup' than their long term goals. I guess it's all about perspective.

Edinburgh's perspective now has to be about being the disciplined and motivated team that they were against Glasgow at Murrayfield on a rolling basis. Much of which could be exemplified by Duhan van der Merwe's aggressive yet legal tackling of Sebastian Canciellere into touch around the halfway mark in the first half. If the word has made it out to Duhan on the left wing we must be getting somewhere.

What would define success for this Edinburgh team in what remains of this season?

In season 2019-2020 we beat Glasgow at the same point of the year. We then went on to win our next five league games and even though the season was shortened by Covid we ended up on our highest ever league points total and narrowly lost the semi final to Ulster. Our win rate in the league that year was 78%.

So, equalling or surpassing that streak would be the kind of success that we can control. Replicating it with the fixtures upcoming should be possible if, and it's a big if, we can harness the application we showed against Glasgow at the weekend and the flair we showed against Bayonne.

We have to learn how to win away. If we don't then we could be looking at no more than eight wins from 18 games and that will not be enough to earn a play-off place.

There's some Challenge Cup adventures in January and hopefully beyond but as for the league let's hope we can enjoy what's left of the ride