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Scotsman
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
'Very disruptive': Scotland prepare for World Cup under huge cloud as off-field matters dominate agenda
Malcolm gives telling insight into mood of camp in wake of Easson departure 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... There is a cloud hanging over women's rugby in Scotland on the eve of the Rugby World Cup, with national team skipper Rachel Malcolm stating the preparations have been significantly disrupted due to off-field issues. The squad are in Italy just now preparing for a Summer Test match in Viadana on Friday evening and there should be excitement in the air, with the first game at the showpiece event coming up on August 23 versus Wales in Manchester. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad However, matters off the pitch are sadly top of the agenda. It was announced last Friday that head coach Bryan Easson's will be leaving after the tournament and the players remain locked in ongoing discussions with Scottish Rugby over contracts. Rachel Malcolm and her Scotland teammates face Italy on Friday. | SNS Group / SRU Easson has been in his role since 2020, but it was announced in a press release last Friday via the Scottish Rugby Union that he will not be in post come October. Asked if she had known about that news for some time, Malcolm said: 'Actually, I haven't been aware of it for too long, it was probably similar timings to you guys [the media] finding out, so it's obviously a shock. 'I think, for us as players, the timing of it was quite upsetting. What we have achieved in the time that Bryan has been in charge is pretty spectacular. I think the opportunity to go and do his career justice at this World Cup is definitely something that's driving us as players.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Not ideal prep ahead of World Cup' Current squad members have held talks with the governing body about their contracts post-tournament, but nothing has been resolved fully as yet and Malcolm added: 'It's not ideal prep whatsoever for a World Cup. It's been very disruptive. 'It's made my job harder as my ethos as a captain is to make my players feel like superwomen. I also want to make them feel valued and make them feel like they belong. The processes which have gone on behind the scenes have definitely done almost the opposite of those three things. 'It's definitely made my job a little bit tougher.' Bryan Easson will leave his post in October. | SNS Group Easson, whose current contract was running out after the World Cup, says that discussions over his future were 'sticky'. 'We have been in discussions for a long time just to see what's happening and it's been sticky,' the man who has worked at Scottish Rugby for 25 years in various roles admitted. 'I had a conversation with Alex [Williamson, the CEO] three or four weeks ago and, with my contract running out, it was felt that it was the right time to move on and that was a conversation between two adults. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The timing of discussions and decisions are always difficult, especially when you're coming into a Rugby World Cup. I think that was probably more of a frustration than anything'. In terms of the Italy match, second-row Emma Wassell will play for Scotland for the first time in 15 months after recovering from a tumour in her chest.
Scotsman
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Eilish McColgan and partner subjected to 'disgusting' racist abuse online
Sign up to our daily 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... Eilish McColgan has revealed she suffered racist abuse online after posting pictures of her engagement to former athlete Michael Rimmer. McColgan, who won a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and was this week named as an official ambassador for the 2026 Games in Glasgow, has called for social media companies to do more to combat online hate. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She would like to see platforms such as X and Instagram use formal identification to prevent the abuse she faces every day. McColgan, 34, says she has become 'numb' to it but appreciates the trauma it causes others. Eilish McColgan, the Commonwealth 10,000m champion, at a Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games photocall at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. | SNS Group Asked specifically about the racial abuse aimed recently at the England footballer Jess Carter during the Euros, McColgan revealed that she and Rimmer had also been targeted. 'For myself, it [the abuse] is always about body image but I recently posted my engagement to my partner and the racist abuse that we received, being a mixed race couple, was honestly disgusting,' said McColgan. 'I've never read anything like it in my life. That was probably pretty eye-opening for me because it was a different type of abuse that was coming towards me that I'd never experienced before. And it's maybe how my parents feel when they read stuff about me. It was me reading that about someone I love, which was difficult to do, so it probably gave me a little bit of a greater appreciation of what my family probably have to go through when they read stuff about me online. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Sadly, that's the downside of social media and the online world that we're in. All we can do is keep standing up for ourselves, voicing our disgust at it, outing people who are maybe not afraid to share their names and stuff online but also ask for verification on social media.' McColgan, who was in Glasgow for the unveiling of the 2026 Commonwealth Games mascot, would like social media users to be verified before being given a platform. Eilish McColgan with Finnie the Unicorn, the official Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games mascot. | SNS Group 'I think social media probably needs to do better, just small verification checks, whether it's uploading a passport, whatever it is,' she said. 'I think it would make a big difference because people won't want their employers seeing what they're saying online. It's harder to hide behind that because there's probably more consequences behind it. I think it stops people from making bad decisions but, as I said, it is part and parcel of just being online.' Carter is part of the England squad that has reached the final of the Euros in Switzerland and said this week she would take a step back from social media after suffering online racist abuse since the tournament began. McColgan expressed sympathy for the footballer. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I mean it's obviously not stopping,' said McColgan. 'I don't think it's a new conversation at all. As I said, it's been happening to me for a long long time. It's not right but sadly that's the way the world has gone. 'Honestly, I've become so numb to it. Even speaking about it, I just feel like it's just part of everyday life like I can't stop it so there's no point in me getting all stressed and worked up about it but I do appreciate that for other athletes, it does wind them up and it does actually take a lot out of them emotionally, mentally.
Scotsman
a day ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Derek McInnes hails Hearts new boys and warns Sunderland to expect 'proper match'
Jambos ease into Premier Sports Cup last 16 Sign up to our Football newsletter 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... Hearts manager Derek McInnes hailed the impact of his new signings after a place in the last 16 of the Premier Sports Cup was secured with a 4-0 win over Dumbarton at Tynecastle. Second half strikes from summer recruits Alexandros Kyziridis and Claudio Braga put the seal on the victory after Lawrence Shankland and Michael Steinwender had netted with headers before the break. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Kyziridis made it two goals in two appearances following his move from MFK Zemplin Michalovce while Braga now has three goals in four games since arriving from Aalesund. Hearts netted four goals in each of their group stages matches to claim maximum 12 points and progress to the next round, almost certainly as one of the seeded teams. And McInnes has been pleased with the contribution of his new attackers. Claudio Braga (second from left) celebrates with James Wilson, Adam Forrester and Blair Spittal after making it 4-0 to Hearts over Dumbarton at Tynecastle. (Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group) | SNS Group "Both of them have made a quick start," he said. "Supporters like what they see - as do we. Both boys are desperate to do well. We've made it clear to them that it covers a multitude of sins if you work hard for supporters and the fans need to see that. It's fundamental for all the players. The games coming up will be a big step up from this, both physically and in terms of intensity. But all the new lads can be pleased with their introduction considering we were just back over a month ago." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hearts new host Sunderland in Craig Gordon's testimonial on Saturday before starting their William Hill Premiership campaign at home to Aberdeen on Monday, August 4. "It's clearly a step up," McInnes said looking ahead to the visit of the Black Cats. "It's a testimonial for Craig and both clubs are here to honour him. At the start and end it will feel like that for Craig, but once the ball rolls it will feel like a proper game. Scotland v England, a Premier League team coming up and thinking back as a player, you would love to pitch yourself against them. I think it will be a really good test for us." Hearts' Alexandros Kyziridis celebrates with James Wilson (L) after making it 3-0 over Dumbarton at Tynecastle. (Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group) | SNS Group Shankland headed the opener in the 17th minute from Stephen Kingsley's cross and Michael Steinwender headed home from a corner seconds before the half-time whistle. Scott Tomlinson almost stunned the home support in the opening seconds of the second half when he hit the bar from a tight angle after robbing Kingsley of possession near the corner flag. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But Hearts were soon back in control and Kyziridis scored his second goal in as many games as the winger jinked his way into the box before sending an angled drive just inside the far post. Braga then converted Cammy Devlin's cutback in the 72nd minute to move Hearts on to a goal difference of 11 and ensure they will be the only top-flight side to boast a perfect record in the group stage. Championship Airdrie continued their 100 per cent record with a 2-1 victory over Montrose to move above Alloa on goal difference in Group C. The group, which features already-eliminated Dundee, will be decided on Saturday when Alloa visit Lanarkshire in a winner-takes-all tie. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Diamonds opened the scoring in the 56th minute at Gayfield when Euan Henderson's cross found its way into the net. The visitors doubled their lead six minutes later when Lewis McGrattan knocked the ball home after Henderson was brought down as he looked set to convert the rebound from his own saved shot.
Scotsman
a day ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Findlay Curtis fake news confession as Rangers teenager comes of age - literally
Winger a year older than was reported after Champions League heroics Sign up to our Football newsletter 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... It was the night nearly everyone agreed Findlay Curtis had come of age although the exact age in question did not get confirmed until after the game. The groans of reporters could have been heard outside on Edmiston Drive. They had already filed reports against a punishingly tight deadline rhapsodising about an 18-year-old's game-changing impact for Rangers against Panathinaikos. It was 18-year-old this, 18-year-old that. Rarely has a player's age been referenced as much. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Actually, sorry everyone, it might help to know that Curtis is 19,' we were informed by a Rangers official over an hour after the final whistle. Never mind stop the press, hark the sound of fists crashing down upon desks. Rangers winger Findlay Curtis celebrates his opening goal in the 2-0 win over Panathinaikos at Ibrox. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group Everyone was culpable. We had all spent the night peddling fake news. Wikipedia, be damned. Curtis, it turns out, turned 19 in June. He can blame the internet for any shortage of cards. On nearly every site likely to cover such information his birthdate remains unhelpfully listed as 1 October, 2006. Of course, it might help if club websites actually included such vital information along with adverts for new season strips and upcoming Oasis tribute band gigs. Where's a copy of the Wee Red Book, that old pocket-sized bible of Scottish football, when you really need it? On the official Rangers website, Curtis is still listed as a B-squad member. No birth date is given although a wide-ranging interview with the player from 9 June last year does note that he 'celebrates his 18th birthday today'. What is indisputable is that he has been involved with the Rangers Academy since the age of six. It's also safe to say, without any fear of contradiction, that he was still a teenager on Tuesday night when he made just his second senior start. What a show of faith from Russell Martin. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It was revealed afterwards that the manager had, probably wisely, decided to give Curtis 24 hours' warning that he was playing to help him digest the news. While it might have led to a sleepless night on the eve of the game, it meant more chance to round up the family. Hence his mother, father, girlfriend, girlfriends' parents, his brother and sister and his pals all being inside Ibrox to see the magical moment when the quality of his first touch from Nico Raskin's pass saw possibilities suddenly open up. He chose to drive inside and took two three more touches, the third of which was the connection that sent a shot crashing beyond Bartlomiej Dragowski into the far corner of the visitors' goal. By getting a clearly spooked Georgios Vagiannidis red carded, his next contribution was almost as consequential. Curtis was sent sprawling in the middle of the park by the Greek full-back after another good first touch had spelled danger. Findlay Curtis scores to make it 1-0 to Rangers over Panathinaikos at Ibrox. (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group) | SNS Group Detained by knight of the realm Curtis was told on Monday morning he would be starting. He told us this at an hour that we are almost contractually bound to write was 'way after his bedtime' on Tuesday, although the reason for the delay - it was nearing 11pm before the teenager made his way into the media room – was a compelling one. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sir Alex Ferguson had set everything back by paying Curtis a visit in the home dressing room after the game. 'Don't blame me!' Martin pleaded when he finally appeared for his manager's press duties. He, too, had been unavoidably detained by the knight of the realm, who's been spending more time around Rangers recently than Broxi the Bear. 'He just congratulated me on my goal,' reported Curtis. 'Coming from a legend like him, I'll take it.' It seemed notable that Ferguson should be present. After all, he is so associated with Manchester United's 'class of 92'. He was unafraid to push through a raft of talented kids and saw this policy reap dividends. Few if any club since then have been blessed with such an embarrassment of riches. It was no hardship for Ferguson to hand playing time to the likes of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and David Beckham. Rangers by contrast have a particularly poor record of bringing through youngsters. In fairness to recent managers, what can you do if the talent isn't there? While there might have been a willingness to blood youngsters they've been hamstrung by a somewhat rum field of candidates. Ross McCausland is one of the few to really make a fist of breaking into the team and he now looks set for pastures new. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Adam Devine was hailed as a future James Tavernier replacement and is currently without a club having been released by Rangers in the summer. Leon King, meanwhile, was watching from the bench on Tuesday night but few surely believe he's not already had his best days with Rangers. Rangers head coach Russell Martin gives instructions to Findlay Curtis during the Champions League clash with Panathinaikos at Ibrox. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group Future Scotland international? Whether Curtis can buck the trend remains to be seen. There are signs that he might possess the X-factor required. He refused to be inhibited by a difficult first half for him and his team. It's also not the first time Curtis has caught the eye in high octane circumstances having come on after an hour against Manchester United at Old Trafford in January and looking assured. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Is it the start of something? Martin expressed the hope that it is. It's his job to ensure that Curtis is given the best possible opportunity to maximise his potential, and, crucially, that he does so at Rangers. As was heavily emphasised at his unveiling, Martin is the 'head coach'. Player development is very much his domain. Although his preferred position is in the middle, a winger shining at one of Scotland's biggest clubs is not just good news for Rangers, but also Steve Clarke, or, more realistically, the national manager after Clarke (or maybe even the one after that).
Scotsman
a day ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Predicted Hibs XI vs Midtjylland as David Gray makes key calls in Europa League clash
Hibs are in Denmark for their Europa League second qualifying round first leg tie vs FC Midtjylland - with David Gray needing to make several key decisions. The club legend and current head coach guided Hibs to third last season in the Premiership, with a trip to Denmark their reward. A positive result here would be a major boost in a quest to reach the third qualifying round, with a return leg at Easter Road to come next week. There are several calls to consider, from who starts in goals between Jordan Smith or Raphael Sallinger, to how many new signings are thrown in. Then there's pondering on formations and who works best for the opposition ahead. Going with a 3-5-2 formation, here's who we think will start for Hibs against Midtjylland. 1 . GK - Jordan Smith Bit of a toss up this but last season's number one keeps his place ahead of Raphael Sallinger. | SNS Group Photo Sales 2 . RWB - Chris Cadden Making his long awaited European debut. | SNS Group Photo Sales 3 . RCB - Warren O'Hora Irishman comes on right hand of back three. | SNS Group Photo Sales 4 . CB - Rocky Bushiri Powerful defender in the middle of back three. | SNS Group Photo Sales
