United Rugby Championship
Plus GB 7s squad announced, U20 Six Nation kicks off, and plenty of Scots abroad action
WELCOME: have no fear, we are back after a two-week break, with Alan having just about recovered from his recent cat-saving heroics. Despite the end of the regular domestic season, there have still been plenty of talking points in the world of Scottish rugby, most notably the launch of the United Rugby Championship, the announcement of the squads for the GB 7s in Tokyo this summer, and the start of the U20 Six Nations Championship. As ever, if you like what you are reading each week, please subscribe and share with your friends.
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UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP: the 21st version of the cross country club competition known as the Celtic League (how time flies when you’re having fun) will officially be known as the ‘United Rugby Championship’. Sixteen teams from across Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Italy and South Africa will battle it out across 18 rounds and 3 knockout stages to be crowned the inaugural United Rugby Champions - the rugby world waits with bated breath for the Dragons vs Lions on a Friday night.
The corridors of power at the SRU will be particularly happy that a system has been devised where Edinburgh/Glasgow play Zebre and Treviso twice whilst Ulster face up twice against Leinster and Munster. If Jonny Petrie thought he could steal SRU staff and Dodson wouldn’t dish out retribution, he was sorely wrong. Big Mark has been playing 4D chess, and the competition structure was checkmate.
Fans and pundits alike have been broadly positive on the revamp, and it feels like an upgrade on the two conference structure that was difficult for even your most ardent fans to stay on top of. However, the structure does have an uncanny resemblance to Super Rugby 2018-2020 regarding pools, qualifying framework and national expansion.
Some commentary from Super Rugby coverage between 2018-2020:
“Whatever you say about Super Rugby conference system, it has pretty much failed to please anyone” - Green and Gold Rugby
“Good riddance to Super Rugby’s failed expansion drive” - Stuff NZ
“Super Rugby has entered the dark ages - and the future doesn't look any brighter” - Rugby Pass
The United Rugby Championship shared some information on branding via their aptly-named website www.pro14.rugby - “Over 140 names were tested – including PRO16 and PRO Rugby Championship – but ultimately United Rugby Championship rose to the top based upon feedback from stakeholders”. Thistle HQ is praying the other 139 names will be released.
PEAK MARKETING GUFF: the competition press releases have allowed us to bring back a historic section of the newsletter…’peak rugby marketing guff.’
“One thing remained a constant, and that is, at its core, the league has been a unification of elite teams from very different rugby-loving nations.”
“In this ever-changing world, it was the ambition of the league’s unions and clubs to take our game to a new place. A place of diversity, innovation, and unrivalled entertainment.”
“The new name needed to reflect the dawn of a new and exciting era in rugby and illustrate the shift of the tournament in the wider sporting landscape.”
Thistle HQ has managed to decode the events and statements from the last week and can present an alternative commentary for the revamped United Rugby Championship:
We were originally four nations who were unable to sustain a domestic pro rugby league and therefore had to create a cross country tournament out of necessity (Wales still wish they’d joined up with the English clubs).
NZ have basically told the South African teams their services are no longer required.
We weren’t really interested, but South African broadcasters have cash, and we all really need cash.
Given the number of teams and countries involved, we have now created four pools. We have too many teams for one league, and the two conferences didn’t really work.
We were going to name it Pro16, but we might add more teams, and all this number changing is getting embarrassing.
PREMIER SPORTS - FOUR MORE YEARS: the news that Premier Sports have signed up for a further 4 years of URC coverage brings to mind just one evergreen meme:
ROBMAC: we are delighted to continue our partnership with sponsor RobMac, which so far has witnessed the Scotland national side make history on two separate occasions, and overseen the best Scottish Lions representation for many a tour.
RobMac are an independent financial advisor specialising in mortgage management, financial planning and investments. We know the team at RobMac well and they are just as keen on Scottish rugby as we are so it makes a great fit.
You can check them out at robmac.co.uk
HUTCH-IN-SON: ‘Blair’s Babes™’ have undergone a number of changes ahead of the Scotland summer tour due to a combination of injuries and suspensions. Both Matt Fagerson and David Cherry have been ruled out due to injury, while Sam Skinner’s misses out after receiving a 4-week ban earned whilst on club duty with Exeter. The only direct replacement is incoming Edinburgh hooker Adam McBurney, yet Rory Hutchinson - praise be - has also been added to the squad, after shining in recent weeks for Northampton Saints. A Hastings-Scott-Hutchinson midfield? Yes please.
GB SEVENS: the GB 7s squads have been announced for this summer’s Tokyo Olympics, with no less than 6 Scots selected across the men’s and women’s squads. Following an extended training camp at Loughborough University, Alec Coombes, Robbie Ferguson, Ross McCann and Max McFarland have all been chosen for the men’s side, while Hannah Smith and Lisa Thomson (1st reserve) have made the women’s. The selection process sounded brutal, so let’s spare some thought for Scotland stalwarts Jamie Farndale and Rhona Lloyd, both of whom impressed in the trial matches.
LEAVERS ‘21: Edinburgh have announced the final list of players leaving Murrayfield at the end of the season. Perhaps the biggest shock is the departure of Eroni Sau, fresh off winning the Players Player and Trainer of the Season gongs at the club’s end of season do. His destination? Provence in the south of France, who finished 13th in the Pro D2 this season. A strange one to say the least…
While the loss of one high performing winger (Duhan) looks like misfortune, the loss of two looks like carelessness, particularly given Cockers hasn’t yet supplemented his back three options for next year. Elsewhere, the departure of two capable if uninspiring tightheads in the shape of Murray McCallum and Simon Berghan could cause troubles down the line. But maybe the greatest shame is that none of the players listed below will be granted the honour of running out at Mini-Murrayfield next season…
U20s, HOSED: Scotland U20 began their Six Nations campaign in disappointing fashion, going down 38-7 to their Irish counterparts in Cardiff. Despite being in the contest for the first 40, the game turned on its head after openside Harri Morris was red-carded for a dangerous challenge in the air. It was always going to be an uphill struggle from then, but the Scots battled well in difficult circumstances, with scrumhalf Murray Redpath, centre Elliot Gourlay and no 8 Ben Muncaster all looking lively for Sean Lineen’s men. Although busy on Scotland duty, you do wonder what difference the likes of Dobie and McLean would make in this sort of fixture. Still, only England away next weekend for the lads…
SCOTS ABROAD
English Premiership
Bristol v Harlequins: replacement James Lang (on in the 68th minute) impressed in what turned out to be a 30 minute stint, as this nuts semi went to extra time.
Exeter v Sale: Gray (4) and Stuart Hogg (23) v McGuigan (14) and Ashman (16). One of the biggest talking points of the week was Rob Baxter dropping Hogg for this fixture, with Jack Nowell stepping up to the fullback role. Baxter was rewarded for this big call, with Nowell having a stormer and looking accomplished in a reasonably unfamiliar position. While Hogg certainly hasn’t let anyone down at Sandy Park, there is a sense that he still produces his best form in a Scotland shirt. This may well be down to the varying styles of Baxter and Toonie, but it is an interesting (and likely unpopular) debate to be had.
Top 14
Racing 92’s wait for silverware continues, after Finn Russell’s side were bested by La Rochelle in Friday night’s Top 14 semi-final. While clearly not all responsibility lies on Finn’s shoulders, Jackie Lorenzetti - the Racing owner - will have expected his big money signings to be delivering trophies. The good news is Finn can now link up with the Lions squad, with an eye on the starting 10 jersey for this Saturday’s curtain raiser against Japan.
Trans-Tasman
Peebles’ favourite son Finlay Christie helped drive the Blues to victory over the Highlanders in Saturday’s Trans-Tasman final, and then was named in the All Blacks squad. He still remains uncapped at this point though: bring him home SRU.
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