Easson on 'smooth transition', French test & Scotland confidence
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Scotsman
17 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Zander Fagerson successor, judicious jackler, booming boot - 8 young Scottish rugby stars to watch
It's a big season for Scotland's key youngsters to come of age Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Glasgow and Edinburgh said goodbye to several of their most important senior players in the close season, with the Warriors losing the likes of Henco Venter and Tom Jordan and the capital club bidding farewell to Jamie Ritchie and Ali Price among others. Scotland's two professional men's sides are therefore, by necessity, set to blood a number of promising young players in the coming campaign. Some of those players have already had a taste of senior rugby, others are about to experience a baptism of fire in the United Rugby Championship, and all will have to come up with the on-field answer to a key question: do they have what it takes to realise their potential and thrive in the pro game? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad And, with the Arnold Clark Men's Premiership kicking off next weekend, some of the country's leading young club players will be out to prove they deserve to be drafted into the pro ranks. Here is The Scotsman's selection of eight of the best young male players who are set to make their impact in the season ahead. Scotland's Ollie Blyth-Lafferty in action during an Under-20's Six Nations match against Ireland in February. (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group) | SNS Group / SRU Ollie Blyth-Lafferty (Edinburgh) Still only 19, the titanic tighthead prop has been earmarked as a player of immense promise since his earliest days with Boroughmuir. At 6ft 4in and around 136kg, he has a formidable physique, and at his current rate of progress seems sure to mature into a regular member of the full national team. In fact, without wishing to put too much pressure on the Scotland Under-20 cap, all being well he should become the long-term successor to Zander Fagerson as the full international side's first choice in the pivotal position. Jack Brown (Edinburgh) Replacing Emiliano Boffelli is a tall order - when fit, the now-departed Argentine is one of the best players in the world. But full-back Brown's big, booming boot is reminiscent of Boffelli's ability in that department, and, although the Scotland Under-20 international has stiff competition from the likes of Harry Paterson, he is robust enough, and sufficiently strong in the air, to be able to perform well for the capital club when called upon. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Freddy Douglas (Edinburgh) You do not have to be Nostradamus to confidently predict that the openside from the capital has a big future ahead of him. After all, he has captained Scotland Under-20s, made his full international debut last season against Portugal, and even before that game was hailed as 'world-class already' by national assistant coach John Dalziel. Having said all that, he has still only played a handful of games at senior level - something which will surely change over the coming months. His judicious jackaling, in particular, is a formidable weapon that should prove invaluable to Edinburgh. Scotland openside Freddy Douglas is tipped for a big season with Edinburgh Rugby. (Photo by Ewan Bootman / SNS Group) | SNS Group Macenzzie Duncan (Glasgow) Having joined the Warriors' academy in time for the start of last season, the back-row forward was selected for the Emerging Scotland squad that played Italy Under 23s in December, two months before he made his Warriors debut off the bench in the win against the Dragons. He then went on to make his first start in the last match of the regular URC season against Leinster, playing at blindside rather than what has been seen as his primary position, No 8. With Jack Mann as well as Venter having moved on from Scotstoun, Glasgow need the likes of Duncan to prove themselves worthy of regular places in the 23. Joe Roberts (Glasgow) A regular with the Scotland Under-20s side, the 19-year-old faces an unenviable task at Scotstoun this season: competing with no fewer than six other hookers who are also trying to earn a place in the Warriors' matchday squads. In addition to his national age-group team-mate and rival Seb Stephen, Aberdonian Roberts has to contend with Gregor Hiddleston, Johnny Matthews, Angus Fraser, Grant Stewart and new signing Tavi Tuipulotu. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Roberts was one of three hookers on the bench when a depleted Warriors side beat Connacht back in January, so he has already had some recognition. The logjam in the position is surely in no-one's longer-term interests, but for the time being at least it will be fascinating to watch the battle royale for regular places in the Glasgow matchday squad. Selkirk's Corey Tait with the Arnold Clark Men's Premiership Trophy. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group) | SNS Group / SRU Corey Tait (Selkirk) Although a place in either the Warriors or the Edinburgh academy is the orthodox route to a professional contract for young players in Scotland, the new pathway system devised by SRU performance director David Nucifora makes allowances for late developers or those who simply might have been overlooked - and Selkirk hooker Tait is one player who could yet benefit from that system. A member of the Glasgow academy before returning to the club game, the former Hawick player turned out for Boroughmuir Bears in Super6 before moving on to Selkirk. His position is just about the most competitive in the country at present (see Joe Roberts, above), but a good run of form in the Premiership could help the former under-20 international get back on the radar of the pro teams again. Matthew Urwin (Glasgow) After being the first-choice stand-off for Scotland Under-20s in the recent World Championship, the 20-year-old will surely press hard this coming season for a place in some of Franco Smith's matchday squads. Adam Hastings and new signings Dan Lancaster and Charlie Savala are all probably ahead of him in the pecking order for the Warriors No 10 jersey, but he needs - and deserves - to get his chance sooner rather than later. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Cameron van Wyk (Glasgow) After some stand-out performances in the Premiership with Ayr, the 19-year-old winger made his debut for Scotland Under-20s earlier this year against England, then scored his first try for the team with an acrobatic dive against France. Born in South Africa, he qualifies for Scotland as his mother is from Kilmarnock.
BBC News
14 hours ago
- BBC News
How a Murrayfield mistake sparked worldwide trend
Scottish Rugby has revealed the iconic a capella second verse of Flower of Scotland began thanks to an innocent mistake from a 21-year-old Murrayfield Stadium turns 100 years old, the governing body explained how what has become a staple of Scotland matches around the world began during a Six Nations game against France in Beels - now Scottish Rugby events lead - was working as a freelance entertainment producer at Murrayfield and said the misunderstanding which led the pipe band to stop playing halfway through the anthem happened during a pre-match sound check."It's funny to look back on now, but at the time I thought I'd lose my job," the 39-year-old said."We'd only played both verses before, and at the sound check the pipe band asked if we wanted it once or twice and I said, 'Once is fine – it's only the sound checks'. I thought they knew we'd play both verses for real ahead of the match."Minutes later, the pipers stopped playing after the first verse of the anthem and my heart just sank. There I was, in front of 67,000 people, thinking, 'That's it. I'm done'."But the crowd just kept singing – louder and louder – completely unaccompanied. It gave me goosebumps. From there, it grew a special following."Scotland has never had an anthem singer because at Murrayfield the crowd is the singer. It reached a new level that day."Ms Beels added: "It could – and probably should – have been the worst moment of my career, but instead it's the highlight."It's amazing the way it's now done around the world, but I can't help but think 'hey – that's our thing'."Although Scotland lost 27-6 that day, Scotland's record points-scorer Chris Paterson said it was a "special" moment."The game was pretty forgettable, but the memory of the anthem that day is still vivid," he said."I can remember initially thinking it must be a mistake and being a bit confused, but as we sang through the second verse the noise rose and the connection with those in the stadium grew."I then assumed it must have been deliberate. Whether you're a player, coach, fan, or watching at home - it's special. It's an amazing part of what it means to be part of Scottish rugby."
Wales Online
21 hours ago
- Wales Online
Lions coach and TV presenter's son named in Welsh team's squad for new season
Lions coach and TV presenter's son named in Welsh team's squad for new season Ffredi Easterby has enjoyed much success in rugby as a teenager. The Easterby family. (Image: Sarra Elgan on Instagram) Sarra Elgan' son has been named in Cardiff Rugby's under-18s squad for the upcoming 2025/2026 season. Ffredi, son of TV presenter Elgan and Lions coach Simon Easterby, has been playing for Cowbridge RFC. 16-year-old Ffredi has been picked alongside Cowbridge teammate Harry Hamlett in the collective for the WRU Academy Championship. He's also a student at Ysgol Bro Morgannwg in Barry, and now has his chance to make an impression in a professional set-up. This isn't the first time Ffredi has made the news, either, having successful outings at the Principality Stadium in cup competitions. In March 2024, Bro Morgannwg won the Year 10 Cup after beating Haverfordwest High 20-18 at the home of Welsh rugby. Ffredi put in an important display, bagging a try in the second half and leading by example as captain of the team. Dad Simon was on water duty for the team, much different to his role as defence coach of Ireland. The family live in the Vale of Glamorgan and Simon had been linked with the vacant Wales head coach role following Warren Gatland's departure earlier this year. Of course, former Scotland defence coach Steve Tandy has now been appointed as Wales boss. Article continues below Last year wasn't Ffredi's first success at the Principality, though. Three years ago, as a year eight student at Bro Morgannwg, Ffredi captained his side to a 31-19 victory over Penweddig in the final. Dad Simon lended a hand on the coaching side of things on the day, and spoke after the game. "It's brilliant and the boys have been fantastic. I've only jumped in at the last minute off the back of the Six Nations," he said. "They have been brilliantly coached and they are a great bunch of boys who work really hard for each other. It is a challenge coaching your own son and I was more nervous today than on most international days. "It was a great occasion and the WRU put on a really good show. It is something the boys will remember for a long time. "They played some tough games to get here and the team they were up against a very good side in Penweddig. I'm sure we will see a few of them in the future running out here again in a red jersey." Ffredi's grandfather, Elgan Rees, played for Neath, Wales and the Lions, while his older sister Soffia is also a successful sportsperson and plays hockey for Wales. As a player, Simon notched up over 150 games for Scarlets and went down as a fan favourite in west Wales. This was when he met Welsh TV presenter and wife Elgan, with the couple tying the knot 20 years ago. Article continues below Despite being born in England, he chose to represent Ireland - the country of his mother.
