Scottish Pro team thread

[123456789]

First topic message reminder :

There doesn't seem to be much going on but I thought it might be an idea to set up a thread devoted to transfers, coaching news and general new information to do with the Scottish pro clubs over the summer

[tigertattie]

Now, here is a question for you all!

Looking at it from a scotland point of view!

Would you rather see 1 scottish team in the top 4 of the rabo and 1 team near the bottom, or would you prefer both teams to be mid table?

Is it better to have two average teams or one poor team and one good team?

Say it was like last year and glasgow were at the top end of the table, but they needed a good strike runner of a winger to improve on thier chances. Would you give them Visser? It would strengthen Glasgow but would weaken the Burgh!!!
Or the other way round, say Edinburgh were doing well but needed a good fullback to complete the squad, would you give them Hogg?

The obvious answer is to have two good teams, but we live in the real world!

[funnyExiledScot]

I'd prefer to see Edinburgh win the league and Glasgow come second! I don't suppose that's an option.....

It's a difficult decision actually, choosing between your two options. You can visibly see how the body language of the Glasgow players (and the Welshification of their fans) has come about on the back of some consistently strong performances in the league. Players like MacArthur, Grant, Swinson, Harley, Wilson, Dunbar, Murchie and Hogg have improved hugely in the last 12 months off the back of club confidence.

Conversely we've seen players like Ford, Gilchrist, Denton, NDL and Visser fall away in the last 12 months after looking the business in the previous years Heineken Cup run.

Confidence is everything, and if we could somehow get confidence flowing through both sides at the same time, then we might be onto something.

I guess I haven't answered your question at all!

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

I'd prefer to see Edinburgh win the league and Glasgow come second! I don't suppose that's an option.....

It's a difficult decision actually, choosing between your two options. You can visibly see how the body language of the Glasgow players (and the Welshification of their fans) has come about on the back of some consistently strong performances in the league. Players like MacArthur, Grant, Swinson, Harley, Wilson, Dunbar, Murchie and Hogg have improved hugely in the last 12 months off the back of club confidence.

Conversely we've seen players like Ford, Gilchrist, Denton, NDL and Visser fall away in the last 12 months after looking the business in the previous years Heineken Cup run.

Confidence is everything, and if we could somehow get confidence flowing through both sides at the same time, then we might be onto something.

I guess I haven't answered your question at all!

Superb!  

[Captain_Sensible]

1. Laidlaw must never play 10 again. If he's to become the international quality 9 Scotland really need him to be, then he needs to be a specialist 9 at Edinburgh. His performance against South Africa in the summer was his first top quality performance at 9 for Scotland, showing that he's getting better the more time he gets at 9. If he's used at 10 for Edinburgh this season, then Scotland are in trouble. Cusiter is always injured, Blair and Lawson are pretty much out of sight, Pyrgos is very average and Kennedy makes Bennett look a seasoned veteran.

2. Never heard of Grayson Hart, but if he's any good at all I'm happy to have him on board at Edinburgh. Chris Leck is a holding operation and Kennedy is a kid. I have huge hopes for Kennedy but were Laidlaw to get injured, then we'd be thin on the ground, and I don't think Hidalgo-Clyne will be ready. I basically see this as swapping Leck for Hart, and looking at Hart's profile, that's an improvement. Plus, with Matawalu comfortably first choice for Glasgow, Scotland need more options, and Cusiter's TV commitments don't seem to permit him to play meaningful rugby anymore.

That is incredibly, outrageously unfair.

[George Carlin]

I'd prefer to see Edinburgh win the league and Glasgow come second! I don't suppose that's an option.....

It's a difficult decision actually, choosing between your two options. You can visibly see how the body language of the Glasgow players (and the Welshification of their fans) has come about on the back of some consistently strong performances in the league. Players like MacArthur, Grant, Swinson, Harley, Wilson, Dunbar, Murchie and Hogg have improved hugely in the last 12 months off the back of club confidence.

Conversely we've seen players like Ford, Gilchrist, Denton, NDL and Visser fall away in the last 12 months after looking the business in the previous years Heineken Cup run.

Confidence is everything, and if we could somehow get confidence flowing through both sides at the same time, then we might be onto something.

I guess I haven't answered your question at all!

Superb!  

Totally unfair comment, FES boyo. I spilled my cheese on toast when I read that.

[George Carlin]

On the new sponsorship deal:

1. Some nice interviews here:
http://www.glasgowwarriors.org/news/13/07/29/bt-sport-shirt-sponsorship-deal-warriors

2. Typical hands down the pants effluvia from the Daily Fail here:

Round two to BT Sport! New channel thwarts Sky advertising ban by sponsoring Glasgow and Edinburgh rugby teams

By Andy Newport, Press Association

PUBLISHED:12:10 GMT, 29 July 2013| UPDATED:13:18 GMT, 29 July 2013

BT Sport has found a way past Sky Sports ban on screening its rival broadcaster's adverts after signing a four-year shirt sponsorship deal with two of the teams Sky has signed up to televise this season.

Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby have agreed a 'substantial multi-million pound' deal that will see both clubs sport BT's logo on their shirts.

The Scottish sides complete in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup, competitions which are to be screened live next year by Sky.
The announcement of the deal follows an Ofcom ruling last month which rejected BT's complaints over Sky's refusal to promote its new rivals on its own channels.

BT will launch three channels later this week, broadcasting live football from the Barclays Premier League in England and Scotland's newly-formed Scottish Premiership.

Its rugby content includes Aviva Premiership matches and France's Top 14 - but it will not screen games involving the two sides it has just signed up to sponsor.

However, Marc Watson, chief executive of TV for BT Retail, claims that could change in future.

When asked if the deal with Edinburgh and Glasgow was a ploy to get around Sky's ban, he said: "When you are looking at a sponsorship arrangement, one of the things you look at is who is going to see your logo, your brand. The audience that follows Scottish rugby is an important audience for us to reach.

'The RaboDirect (PRO12) will be covered by Sky and other broadcasters too in the next few years and that broadcaster exposure is one of the elements - but not the only one - in what is quite a broad deal with Scottish Rugby.

'We launch three channels later this week and it's a major strategic objective of the company to establish those channels and to make them a success. As we are launching those channels into the marketplace it seems an obvious thing to use this deal to help promote those channels.

'This is a sponsorship deal, not a broadcasting deal. We will look in the future at all opportunities to broadcast sports as they come up and if an opportunity comes up to broadcast (the Scottish) rugby teams then of course we will look at it.

'For the rugby fan, we believe we (already) have a lot that is attractive and that is appealing.'

Mark Dodson, chief executive of the Scottish Rugby Union - which owns both Edinburgh and Glasgow - hinted the deal would see extra money be made available to strengthen both squads.

He said: 'This is the most lucrative shirt sponsorship deal we have ever signed - by some margin. It dwarfs any deal we have signed in the past.

'We will always be looking for the best players possible. If that means the player budget rises as a consequence, that is what will happen.

'I've given both coaches (Gregor Townsend and Stevie Scott) the reassurance that if there is a top-class player out there that they want, who wants to come to Scotland, we will fund it.'

[George Carlin]

On unrelated news, apparently my boy Frazier Climo (Ayr's special looking 10 from 2009-2011) is being hunted by the Scarlets given his stellar performances for Taranaki (he is keeping Barrett out of the first choice kicking duties):
 
https://www.606v2.com/t44592p600-welsh-regions-signings-departures-rumours-2013-scarlets-closing-in-on-taranaki-points-machine#2212465
 
Amazing if he found his way back into Rabo rugby. And whilst I don't want to get ahead of myself, I think he's Scots qualified. That's made my day, that.

[tigertattie]

I guess I haven't answered your question at all!

No FES, you have not  

But it is a conundrum. Would Scotland perfom better as a country with 2 average pro teams or one great and one poopie pro team?

I just worry about a form of resource allocation! Last season the Weedge made quite a few excellent signings and Edinburgh made none of worth. It looks like the coming season is going to see Edinburgh with hee haw good signing again. Did the SRU (or Sean Lineen on his own) allocate too much resource to Glasgow and not enough to Edinburgh? Did a flying Glasgow but dipping Edinburgh adversely effect the Scottish performances in the 6Ns??? Would a couple of the signings going to Edinburgh, boosting Edinburgh but resulting in Glasgow dropping out the top 4 of the rabo, result in two average teams combining to form a stronger Scotland???  

[funnyExiledScot]

'I've given both coaches (Gregor Townsend and Stevie Scott) the reassurance that if there is a top-class player out there that they want, who wants to come to Scotland, we will fund it.'.

Loving that last sentence, in particular the caveat between the final two commas. Genius.

[George Carlin]

On unrelated news, apparently my boy Frazier Climo (Ayr's special looking 10 from 2009-2011) is being hunted by the Scarlets given his stellar performances for Taranaki (he is keeping Barrett out of the first choice kicking duties):
 
https://www.606v2.com/t44592p600-welsh-regions-signings-departures-rumours-2013-scarlets-closing-in-on-taranaki-points-machine#2212465
 
Amazing if he found his way back into Rabo rugby. And whilst I don't want to get ahead of myself, I think he's Scots qualified. That's made my day, that.

I am re-posting my own post above because I get the sense that people are insufficiently excited about the prospect of another young SQ 10 who is not completely sh!te playing in the Rabo for a competitive team. ()

[funnyExiledScot]

Tigertattie - sadly, if the rumours were true, Edinburgh were offered first dibs on Maitland but actually turned him down, not wanted to commit too much budget to a winger, when Bradley wanted the money spent on a stand-off.

That said, when you look at the signings of the last few seasons, Edinburgh are certainly due a good one.

[funnyExiledScot]

On unrelated news, apparently my boy Frazier Climo (Ayr's special looking 10 from 2009-2011) is being hunted by the Scarlets given his stellar performances for Taranaki (he is keeping Barrett out of the first choice kicking duties):
 
https://www.606v2.com/t44592p600-welsh-regions-signings-departures-rumours-2013-scarlets-closing-in-on-taranaki-points-machine#2212465
 
Amazing if he found his way back into Rabo rugby. And whilst I don't want to get ahead of myself, I think he's Scots qualified. That's made my day, that.

I am re-posting my own post above because I get the sense that people are insufficiently excited about it.

[George Carlin]

On unrelated news, apparently my boy Frazier Climo (Ayr's special looking 10 from 2009-2011) is being hunted by the Scarlets given his stellar performances for Taranaki (he is keeping Barrett out of the first choice kicking duties):
 
https://www.606v2.com/t44592p600-welsh-regions-signings-departures-rumours-2013-scarlets-closing-in-on-taranaki-points-machine#2212465
 
Amazing if he found his way back into Rabo rugby. And whilst I don't want to get ahead of myself, I think he's Scots qualified. That's made my day, that.

I am re-posting my own post above because I get the sense that people are insufficiently excited about it.

 Don't worry. It's a west of Scotland thing.

[funnyExiledScot]

I'm always naturally sceptical when someone assures me something useful is supposed to emanate from Ayr......

 

[George Carlin]

I'm always naturally sceptical when someone assures me something useful is supposed to emanate from Ayr......
 

Nonsense young feller me lad. Self evidently, Ayr is responsible for many beautiful things:
 
E.g. 1:

 
E.g. 2:

 
E.g. 3:

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Kirsty Hume - good god, GC, I may have just made a mess in my boxers, damn you.

On another note, I don't think Climo was here long enough, I'm sure that I remember reading somewhere that his stay fell short by a couple of months or so - shame if true

[RDW]

Great to hear the sponsorship deal 'dwarfs any deal in the past' - especially in the current climate.

we slag the sru off a lot but hats off for something done well!

[funnyExiledScot]

Hmmm, I'll just wait until I see the figures before congratulating the SRU. That this deal is better than the last doesn't necessarily fill me with confidence either.

[Majestic83]

On unrelated news, apparently my boy Frazier Climo (Ayr's special looking 10 from 2009-2011) is being hunted by the Scarlets given his stellar performances for Taranaki (he is keeping Barrett out of the first choice kicking duties):
 
https://www.606v2.com/t44592p600-welsh-regions-signings-departures-rumours-2013-scarlets-closing-in-on-taranaki-points-machine#2212465
 
Amazing if he found his way back into Rabo rugby. And whilst I don't want to get ahead of myself, I think he's Scots qualified. That's made my day, that.

I am re-posting my own post above because I get the sense that people are insufficiently excited about the prospect of another young SQ 10 who is not completely sh!te playing in the Rabo for a competitive team. ()

Unfortunately Climo isn't scottish qualified, he was looking at it through residency but went back to NZ for too long after his first season at Ayr and had to re start the process when he came back for his second season, shame as he is a good player. Plays mostly at wing for Taranaki though these days and not 10.

[justified sinner]

Looking at the BT deal in the bigger scheme of things.

How does this impact on the HC talks? I would guess that the SRU are now onboard with the BT coverage. Therefore the entire AP proposal?

Secondly my bet would be that we will see zero Scottish teams on the new Sky deal with the Rabo and probably very few in the Heineken this year.

Just thoughts as I no longer work in media and certainly have no idea about Sky BT infighting.

Throwing it out.

JS

[Dorothy_Mantooth]

Looking at the BT deal in the bigger scheme of things.

How does this impact on the HC talks? I would guess that the SRU are now onboard with the BT coverage. Therefore the entire AP proposal?

Secondly my bet would be that we will see zero Scottish teams on the new Sky deal with the Rabo and probably very few in the Heineken this year.

Just thoughts as I no longer work in media and certainly have no idea about Sky BT infighting.

Throwing it out.

JS

Don't think the deal will affect the Pro teams being shown on Sky in the HC, certainly this year. If Sky don't show them in Rabo games, will just mean more will be on the Free to Air channels.

How it affects the HC is more open for debate. Maybe the SRU have seen the writing on the wall and have at least got a good sponsorship deal for it.

[George Carlin]

The BBC has reported that Edinburgh will announce their new head coach on Tuesday:

Edinburgh: Tim Visser wants long-term plan as new coach arrives
29 July 2013 Last updated at 22:11

Edinburgh will announce their new head coach on Tuesday, with winger Tim Visser urging the new appointment to usher in long-term continuity.

The Murrayfield outfit finished third bottom of the Rabodirect Pro12 last season, leading to the exit of head coach Michael Bradley in March.

"It's important to get someone that's perfect for the job," said Visser.

"They can do the job medium to long term and put some real fundamentals in place to progress the club."

Stevie Scott and Duncan Hodge oversaw the final weeks of last season, but Visser believes the Edinburgh players can adapt to yet another change in leadership.

"We've had various coaches coming in and out of Edinburgh and we're kind of used to that now," said the Dutch-born Scotland international.

Visser said the new coach must solve the mystery of a slump in form from the previous season.

"Last season was particularly disappointing for us considering the season we had before," he told BBC Scotland.

"Reaching the semi-final of the Heineken Cup gave us hope of building upon that last season.

"It means that this season is a fresh start for us and we don't necessarily have anything to build on.

"Sometimes things click and sometimes things don't and we had different things going wrong in different games and nothing we could put our finger on."

Scottish Rugby Union chief executive Mark Dodson expects the new coach to make significant changes.

"They are going into it after a very poor season, we're making some changes to the player rosta and I think the new coach will have some new ideas about how Edinburgh play," he said.

"I expect them to be much more competitive this season."

Dodson thought there were several contributory factors to Edinburgh's poor showing.

"It was a number of things," he said. "There was certainly a crisis of confidence, but in terms of preparation and in terms of the execution of the game plan, they had problems around all those issues and that's why we made some changes.

"And we expect the new coach to be pretty ruthless about how he goes about making sure we improve this season.

"Staying the same is unacceptable. We hope we're going to drive Edinburgh forward.

"There's a lot of quality in that squad and a lot of guys are hurting after last season and will be out to make sure it doesn't happen again."

[InjuredYetAgain]

Good news, George but I can scarcely believe that a CEO identified the problems but the coaching team and senior players didn't.
I had hoped that the delay in the announcement was waiting for the Crusaders to get knocked out so we got Slackbladder but it does look like Solomons now as his season finishes this weekend, win, lose or draw.

[RDW]

Well Grayson Hart is now following me in Twitter - surely confirmation he's coming to Scotland?!

Can't say he's following me for my wise cracks and banter...

[George Carlin]

Good news, George but I can scarcely believe that a CEO identified the problems but the coaching team and senior players didn't.
I had hoped that the delay in the announcement was waiting for the Crusaders to get knocked out so we got Slackbladder but it does look like Solomons now as his season finishes this weekend, win, lose or draw.

Slacky has signed up for 2/3 more years with the Saders IYA (can't remember which at the moment), so that one is not on the cards.
 
It would make sense if this is Solomons. The Lions beat his Kings 26-19 in the relegation play off recently and the second leg is on 2 August. If the Kings go down, I would struggle to see why Alan wouldn't move to Edinburgh.

[RDW]

Well I just tweeted Hart saying "any truth behind the rumours you are heading to this part of the world" and he favourited it - surely got to mean he's coming to Scotland!

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

One thing that alarmed me somewhat was MacVisser's contention that pre-season was mainly about strength and conditioning, less about skills and tactics, and hence the absence of a head coach wasn't a major obstacle in Embra's pre-season regime - v surprised to hear that line of thinking

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Well I just tweeted Hart saying "any truth behind the rumours you are heading to this part of the world" and he favourited it - surely got to mean he's coming to Scotland!

You would have though so

[Captain_Sensible]

Edinburgh have confirmed that they are announcing their new head coach today.

[RDW]

One thing that alarmed me somewhat was MacVisser's contention that pre-season was mainly about strength and conditioning, less about skills and tactics, and hence the absence of a head coach wasn't a major obstacle in Embra's pre-season regime - v surprised to hear that line of thinking

Not concerned by that - all clubs spend the first chunk of pre season just doing fitness

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

One thing that alarmed me somewhat was MacVisser's contention that pre-season was mainly about strength and conditioning, less about skills and tactics, and hence the absence of a head coach wasn't a major obstacle in Embra's pre-season regime - v surprised to hear that line of thinking

Not concerned by that - all clubs spend the first chunk of pre season just doing fitness

They don't - the best ones add in skills early

[MacKnocked-on]

Alan Solomons it is then, starting August 9th.

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Alan Solomons it is then, starting August 9th.

This year or 2016?!

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

On a more serious note, an excellent appointment imo - long-term supporters of both Ulster and Saints speak v highly of him

[Tattie Scones RRN]

Scottish Rugby director of rugby, Scott Johnson, said: “We have conducted a global search through scores of candidates who have shown a great deal of enthusiasm for helping us realise the potential in Edinburgh Rugby.

 

His CV seems filled with fairly successful ventures.

Onwards and upwards.

[MacKnocked-on]

Be interesting to see if there's much in the way of player movement in and out of the club now, sounds like Hart may well be a possibility. Great if Solomons has a couple of SQ players in mind from South Africa who could make the sort of impact Strauss has at Glasgow.

[Notch]

Mark McCall won the league with Ulster in 2006, but only because he basically inherited Alan Solomons team. Alan Solomons built that team and after one excellent season it wasn't too long going to hell without him there.

Very impressive appointment- should have went for someone of this calibre before, not sure why Bradley was offered the job given his record with Connacht.

[RuggerRadge2611]

Pretty chuffed with that appointment. more to follow when I have more time. Sadly work is getting in the way of rugby banter.

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Has anyone seen anything on the length of his contract - a seriously good piece of business would tie him down for multiple years, with a performance clause of course

[George Carlin]

From Edinburgh Rugby webshite:

Edinburgh Rugby are delighted to announce the appointment of new head coach Alan Solomons.

The former South Africa assistant coach [pictured left], who has steered the Barbarians to wins over five top tier nations (England, Scotland, Wales, South Africa and New Zealand) and led clubs to silverware in both the northern and southern hemisphere, will check into Murrayfield on Friday 9 August.

He will be joined by Stevie Scott [right], whose work as interim head coach has been rewarded with a full-time assistant (forwards) role.

Edinburgh Rugby managing director, David Davies, said: “I’m delighted to confirm the appointment of such experienced, respected and passionate coaches.

“In addition to attracting the undeniable quality in Alan Solomons, I’m very pleased to retain the services of Stevie Scott, whose work on and off the field in pre-season has been exceptional.

“I’m confident they will provide the foundations for our long-term objective of becoming a force on the domestic and European stage.”

Solomons' coaching career

Solomons was assistant coach during the Springbok’s record run of 17 victories, which included an unbeaten Tri Nations success in 1998 and record wins over Scotland (68-19), France (51-10) and Wales (96-13).

It was during this time that he coached the Western Province to successive Currie Cup Premier division finals (1997 and 1998), winning the trophy in 1997, and took the Stormers to the Super 12 semi-final in 1999, before beginning an impressive three-year term at Ulster in 2001.

The Irishmen reached the knockout rounds of the Celtic League every year Solomons was at the helm, twice made the Celtic Cup final (lifting the trophy in 2003) and enjoyed a three-year unbeaten home record in the Heineken Cup, which lifted the club’s European ranking from 37th to 10th.

He was employed as a high performance consultant for the IRB from 2007 to 2011 before taking the Eastern Province to three successive Currie Cup division one finals (winning the Cup in 2010 and 2012) and lifting the IRB Nations Cup under the guise of shadow international side, the South Africa Kings.

He was then appointed director rugby of the Southern Kings for their maiden Super Rugby season, charged with turning the amateur union into a Super Rugby side, before securing his move to Murrayfield.

Solomons said: “This is a very exciting role at a club which has a huge amount of potential.


The ambition and desire of everyone involved with the club to do whatever it takes to build its success, and the plans being put in place to achieve that, are very impressive.

“I’m very much looking forward to arriving in Edinburgh, teaming up with Stevie [Scott] and meeting the challenges head on.”

Forwards coach, Stevie Scott, added: “I’m delighted to extend my term with the Edinburgh Rugby, a team which I have a long association with and a huge amount of passion for.

“I’m looking forward to building on the work done since the tail end of last season with a highly experienced coach.

“We’ll put everything into getting this club back into a position we can all be proud of.”

Scottish Rugby director of rugby, Scott Johnson, said: “We have conducted a global search through scores of candidates who have shown a great deal of enthusiasm for helping us realise the potential in Edinburgh Rugby.

“This pair offer an excellent balance of experience, passion and success, as well as in-depth knowledge of the local and international rugby scenes, something which we are look forward seeing put to the test at Murrayfield.”

Scottish Rugby chief executive, Mark Dodson, added: “We’re delighted to have secured the services of such an experienced and talented coach for the top job at Edinburgh Rugby.

“Alan is an exceptional character and coach and one we believe will help steer Edinburgh Rugby towards our strategic objective of consistently reaching the RaboDirect play-offs and the knockout rounds of the Heineken Cup.”

Alan Solomons (63)


2010 - 2013: Director of Rugby, Southern and Eastern Province Kings - The position at The Southern/EP Kings entailed building an amateur Union from scratch to Super Rugby status.
•Currie Cup champions in 2010 and 2012 (beaten finalists in 2011)
•South Africa Kings - IRB Nations Cup champions (2011)

2010: Barbarians assistant Coach - Defeated South Africa at Twickenham

2009: Barbarians assistant Coach - Defeated All Blacks at Twickenham

2009: Southern Kings Coach - Inaugural match against The British and Irish Lions

2007 - 2011: IRB high performance Consultant - Oversaw eight tier two countries and assisted their Rugby World Cup preparation

2006: USA Director of Rugby (IRB secondment)

2005: University of Cape Town interim head coach - Brought in mid-season to stave off relegation to won the remaining nine matches won and finish third in the league

2004: Northampton head coach

2003: Barbarians head coach - Recorded wins over England, Scotland and Wales

2001- 2004: Ulster director of coaching
•Celtic League semi-finalists (2002 and 2003), runners up (2004)
•Celtic Cup winners (2003), runners cup (2004)
•Three-year unbeaten home record in the Heineken Cup – raised European ranking from 37th to 10th

1999 - 2001: Stormers Super 12 head coach - Super 12 semi-finalists (1999)

1998: Stormers Super 12 assistant coach

1998 - 1999: Western Province head coach - Currie Cup finalist (1998)

1997 - 2000: South Africaassistant coach, 17 Tests unbeaten, Tri Nations champions (1998) and placed third in the 1999 Rugby World Cup

1997: Western Province assistant Coach - Currie Cup Champions

[George Carlin]

Mark McCall won the league with Ulster in 2006, but only because he basically inherited Alan Solomons team. Alan Solomons built that team and after one excellent season it wasn't too long going to hell without him there.

Very impressive appointment- should have went for someone of this calibre before, not sure why Bradley was offered the job given his record with Connacht.

Thanks Notch - good to know.

[Weegie Wizard]

Good news.
Still 5 and a bit weeks I think until the start of the season so plenty of time to recruit the 2 or 3 guys Edinburgh need to have a good XV.
Should help sell a few season tickets at long last

[tigertattie]

finally! some good news for the Burgh!

Hopefully Solomons can bring some much needed backbone back to Edinburgh!

Some of the under-performing players better get their heads out their backsides or they could be in for a rude awakening!

[MacKnocked-on]

Does anyone know if any of the Edinburgh and Glasgow games will be shown on BBC Alba this season or is everything now on Sky or BT?

[Weegie Wizard]

Mac, I'm fairly sure that it's Alba for the Pro12 and Sky for the HC this season, then Sky for the Pro12 and BT for the HC next season.

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Mac, I'm fairly sure that it's Alba for the Pro12 and Sky for the HC this season, then Sky for the Pro12 and BT for the HC next season.

Not yet

[IanBru]

Just wait until Edinburgh sign Hart, and the Scotsman runs a piece assessing the half-back options entitled 'King Solomons' Nines'

I can bloody see it.

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Nice one, IB

[George Carlin]

Just wait until Edinburgh sign Hart, and the Scotsman runs a piece assessing the half-back options entitled 'King Solomons' Nines'

I can bloody see it.

Every single tabloid article will mention that Edinburgh's problems may well be beyond the "wisdom of Solomons".

[RDW]

Really happy with this - let's get some stability in the club.

Also happy with Stevie Scott as forwards coach. He's a passionate Edinburgh man and did a decent job stopping the train wreck last season when he took over.

Now if Solomons can bring a 24 year old 6ft 4 SA blindside whose Aunty once ate Haggis then it will be an inspired appointment!

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