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BBC News
13 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Your views as Glasgow win & Edinburgh lose in URC quarter-finals
We asked for your thoughts after Glasgow beat Stormers and Edinburgh lost to Bulls in the URC a taste of what you had to say:GLASGOWStuart: Same as last year - game management was spot on. Played in the right areas when it mattered. Hopefully we can do the same next Glasgow starting to peak just at the right What a great result for the Warriors. I thought Tom Jordan was excellent and a good few others. Very proud to be a GW supporter. Bring on Leinster. Two in a row?Charlie: Great victory. Some fantastic attacking play and many excellent performances from the backs. A colossal performance by the departing Henco It appears Edinburgh hit the elevation wall a good 20 minutes before the Bulls, having been in control and playing as well as they have seen all season. A fair result on balance, but strange that our normally prolific ruck penalty count was so low. Stair: Great end of season for Edinburgh. With 40 minutes gone we were the best team. As always we fell away in the third 20, only to come back into the game and almost create an upset. Far better outcome than I thought possible after our home surrender to Zebre some weeks ago. Well done and let's look forward to next year.
Edinburgh Reporter
3 days ago
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Bryan Easson names 38-player training squad ahead of World Cup
Scotland Women's Head Coach Bryan Easson has named a 38-player extended training squad in preparation for the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025, set to take place in England this August. Those named, include four uncapped players; Aila Ronald, Hannah Ramsay, Hannah Walker and Meg Varley; each of whom were involved in the training squad through the Guinness Women's Six Nations 2025. In a significant boost for the team, Emma Wassell makes her return to the national setup for the first time since 2024, following her recovery from a benign tumour in her chest. Hollie Cunningham and Coreen Grant also rejoin the squad after overcoming injuries sustained earlier this year. The group will convene in camp throughout June to build for the Summer Test period before the Women's Rugby World Cup begins in August. Speaking on the announcement, Easson said: 'I'm really pleased we are now at the stage of naming an extended training squad ahead of what is going to be a huge summer for women's sport. 'As we saw through this year's Six Nations, there are good players missing out on selection and I think that's testament to the depth we've developed, the consistency of performances, and the competitive standard being set week in and week out. Selection has been based entirely on performance, and that's driven some very tough decisions. 'As we move into this crucial preparation period, we're focused on sharpening every detail and pushing ourselves to the next levels. The months ahead are vital as we build towards the summer and set our sights firmly on competing at the Rugby World Cup. 'We've named a strong, competitive group that blends hard-earned experience with exciting young talent. I was particularly pleased with how our debutants and uncapped players performed during the Guinness Women's Six Nations – both in training and in matches – and this window gives them a chance to step up and show us more. 'It's also fantastic to welcome back Emma Wassell, Coreen Grant, Hollie Cunningham, and Meg Varley, all of whom have worked hard to return from injury and are now fit and available for selection. Their return adds even greater strength and competition to the squad.' Scotland Women extended training squad for the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 in England (caps in brackets) Forwards : Leah Bartlett – Leicester Tigers (43) Gemma Bell – Gloucester Hartpury/Hartpury University (1) Becky Boyd – Loughborough Lightning (3) Sarah Bonar – Harlequins (47) Elliann Clarke – Bristol Bears (20) Hollie Cunningham – Bristol Bears (2) Lisa Cockburn – Gloucester Hartpury (33) Eva Donaldson – Leicester Tigers (15) Evie Gallagher – Bristol Bears (35) Adelle Ferrie – Edinburgh Rugby/Corstorphine Cougars (4) Jade Konkel – Harlequins (71) Rachel Malcolm – Unattached (56) Elis Martin – Loughborough Lightning (20) Rachel McLachlan – Montpellier (51) Aila Ronald – Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh (uncapped) Molly Poolman – Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonian FC (4) Lana Skeldon – Bristol Bears (79) Alex Stewart – Edinburgh Rugby/Corstorphine Cougars (11) Emma Wassell – Unattached (67) Molly Wright – Sale Sharks (23) Anne Young – Loughborough Lightning (20) Backs; Leia Brebner-Holden – Loughborough Lightning (9) Beth Blacklock – Saracens (3) Rhea Clarke – Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh (1) Coreen Grant – Harlequins (15) Rhona Lloyd – Unattached (57) Caity Mattinson – Trailfinders Women (31) Francesca McGhie – Leicester Tigers (22) Helen Nelson – Loughborough Lightning (70) Rachel Philipps – Sale Sharks (1) Hannah Ramsay – Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh (Uncapped) Chloe Rollie – Trailfinders Women (75) Lucia Scott – Gloucester-Hartpury/Hartpury University (5) Emma Orr – Bristol Bears (29) Lisa Thomson – Trailfinders Women (69) Hannah Walker – Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh (Uncapped) Evie Wills – Leicester Tigers (4) Meg Varley – Bristol Bears (Uncapped) Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Key man missing from Edinburgh Rugby's history bid but Jamie Ritchie returns
Scots side short of cover in the second row 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... Edinburgh Rugby will be without Duhan ver der Merwe as they bid to make history in South Africa by winning a knockout tie in the United Rugby Championship for the first time. The Scotland and Lions winger travelled to Pretoria with the squad but is still not fit enough to play and has been left out of the match-day 23 for the play-off quarter-final against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Van der Merwe, 30, has not featured since March due to an ankle injury but would be fit for the semi-finals should Edinburgh progress. Edinburgh's Jamie Ritchie (L) is back for the quarter-final with the Bulls but Duhan van der Merwe (R) is missing. | SNS Group Saturday's match with the Bulls also comes too soon for club co-captain Grant Gilchrist who remains sidelined with a hamstring problem and Edinburgh are also without Glen Young who has not made the trip to Pretoria after the recent birth of his child. It leaves them short of cover in the second row where Sam Skinner and Marshall Sykes will start for the third game in a row. There is no lock forward on the bench and Magnus Bradbury, who captains the side and starts at No 8, is the designated back-up should anything happen to Skinner or Sykes. The better news for Edinburgh is the return of the vastly experienced Jamie Ritchie who starts for the first time since sustaining a concussion against Bath in the Challenge Cup semi-finals at the start of May. He comes into the team at six, with Ben Muncaster moving to the bench in the only change to the starting side which beat Ulster to clinch a place in the top eight. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It's the first time Edinburgh have made the play-offs since 2022, the URC's inaugural season, when they lost to the Stormers in the quarter-finals in Cape Town. They have returned to South Africa this week and been urged by head coach Sean Everitt to go one better to set up a semi-final against either the Sharks or Munster. 'Winning a URC knockout match on the road would be a significant achievement for this club,' said Everitt. 'It's something we've been working towards, and the opportunity to make history is a powerful driver for us. We've got a fantastic group of players who are hungry for success, and we're determined to put in a performance that reflects the ambition of Edinburgh Rugby.' They will have to do it without van der Merwe but Everitt is confident Harry Paterson can be a more than adequate replacement on the left wing for Scotland's record try-scorer who is in South Africa with the Edinburgh squad. Harry Paterson will start on the wing for Edinburgh against the Bulls in Pretoria. | SNS Group 'Duhan has been back training with us here in Pretoria this week, and he's feeling good,' said Everitt. 'However, he's probably still a few days away from being ready to return to full match action. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'There's a possibility of a semi-final in Durban so bringing him along made sense. We'd rather have a 100 per cent fit Duhan next week. He's come through the week well, so physically he's good. Obviously, just lacking a bit of match fitness.' Edinburgh have included the inexperienced Conor McAlpine and Liam McConnell on the bench to cover scrum-half and the back row, respectively. McAlpine has made only one previous appearance in Edinburgh's first team and McConnell has made three, and Everitt described it as an exciting opportunity for the pair. The Edinburgh coach is a good friend of his Bulls counterpart, Jake White, and the pair are planning to have a barbecue together on the eve of the match.
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
What is play-off success for Glasgow & Edinburgh? Does Russell get a raw deal?
BBC Scotland's chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering some of your Scottish rugby questionsJamie 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 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 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 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 asked: With George Turner joining Harlequins can we look forward to him being part of the Scotland set-up again? We've missed Tom answered: Totally agree Scotland have missed him. He's still the best hooker and it's good news he's back close to 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 haven't been good enough to do that. They haven't had the artillery up front, where most rugby games are 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.
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
How will Glasgow & Edinburgh do in URC quarter-finals?
Glasgow Warriors host Stormers on Friday night and Edinburgh are in Pretoria to face Bulls on Saturday in the URC do you think the Scottish teams get on? Will either or both progress? And can they go all the way after Glasgow's memorable triumph last season?Tell us your thoughts here
