New Edinburgh and Glasgow Teams Thread - 2013/2014

[George Carlin]

First topic message reminder :

We exhausted the other thread, so here we go with a new one for all of your pre-season banter needs.
 
1. Edinburgh   
 
Chairman: Jim Calder
CEO: Craig Docherty
Coach: Alan Solomons  
Captain: Greig Laidlaw
 
(a) Squad:
 
Props
Geoff Cross, WP Nel, Lewis Niven, Alasdair Dickinson
 
Hookers
Ross Ford, Steven Lawrie, Aleki Lutui, Alun Walker,
 
Locks
Sean Cox, Grant Gilchrist, Perry Parker, Izak van der Westhuizen, Robert McAlpine,
 
Loose Forwards
Dimitri Basilaia, David Denton, Roddy Grant, Stuart McInally, Ross Rennie, Hamish Watson,
 
Half Backs
Alex Black, Greig Laidlaw, Chris Leck, Harry Leonard, Piers Francis,
 
Centres
Ben Atiga, Ben Cairns, Nick De Luca, John Houston, Matt Scott,
 
Back Three
Tom Brown, Lee Jones, Greig Tonks, Tim Visser, Nikki Walker, Dougie Fife, Jack Cuthbert
 
(b) Transfers 2013/2014:
 
Players In
 
Nikki Walker from Worcester Warriors
Jack Cuthbert from Bath Rugby
Aleki Lutui from Worcester Warriors
Alasdair Dickinson from Sale Sharks
 
Players Out
 
Richie Rees to Newport Gwent Dragons
Netani Talei to Newport Gwent Dragons
Sep Visser released
Mike Penn to Moseley
Andy Titterrell to London Welsh
John Yapp to London Irish
Allan Jacobsen retired
James King retired
Steven Turnbull retired
 
(c) Elite Development Players 2013/2014:
 
Alex Allan (Edinburgh Accies)
Chris Auld (Gala)*
Magnus Bradbury (Boroughmuir)*
Phil Cringle (Heriot’s)
Bruce Dick (Melrose)*
Jamie Farndale (Edinburgh Accies)
Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Heriot’s)
Neil Irvine Hess (Watsonians)*
Ewan McQuillin (Gala)*
George Turner (Heriot’s)
Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Accies)
 
* = new EDP player 
 
2. Glasgow  
 
Chairman: Charles Shaw
CEO: Nathan Bomrys
Coach: Gregor Townsend
Captain: Alastair Kellock
 
(a) Squad:
 
Fraser Brown, Hooker
Finlay Gillies, Hooker
Dougie Hall, Hooker
Pat MacArthur, Hooker
Michael Cusack, Prop
Ryan Grant, Prop
Ed Kalman, Prop
Moray Low, Prop
Gordon Reid, Prop
Jon Welsh, Prop
Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Prop
 
Jonny Gray, Lock
Alastair Kellock, Lock
Tom Ryder, Lock
Tim Swinson, Lock
Leone Nakarawa, Lock
 
James Eddie, Flanker
Chris Fusaro, Flanker
Rob Harley, Flanker
Tyrone Holmes, Flanker
 
Ryan Wilson, Number 8
Richie Vernon, Number 8
Josh Strauss, Number 8
 
Chris Cusiter, Scrum-half
Nikola Matawalu, Scrum-half
Henry Pyrgos, Scrum-half
 
Ruaridh Jackson, Fly-half
Duncan Weir, Fly-half
Scott Wight, Fly-half
 
Gabriel Ascarate, Centre
Mark Bennett, Centre
Alex Dunbar, Centre
Peter Horne, Centre
Byron McGuigan, Centre
 
Sean Lamont, Wing
Sean Maitland, Wing
Tommy Seymour, Wing
D.T.H. van der Merwe, Wing
 
Stuart Hogg, Fullback
Peter Murchie, Fullback
 
(b) Player Transfers 2013/2014:
 
Players In
 
Richie Vernon from Sale Sharks
Tyrone Holmes from Petrarca Rugby
Jerry Yanuyanutawa from London Irish
Gabriel Ascarate from US Carcassonne
Leone Nakarawa from Fiji Barbarians
 
Players Out
 
John Barclay to Scarlets
Nick Campbell to Jersey
Ofa Fainga'anuku to Worcester Warriors
Taylor Paris to Agen
Graeme Morrison retired
Rory Lamont retired
 
(c) Elite Development Players 2013/2014:
 
Gavin Lowe (Ayr)
Rory Hughes (Stirling County)
Jack Steele (Dundee)
Finn Russell (Ayr)
Ali Price (Bedford Blues)
Adam Ashe (Stirling County)
Will Bordill (Sale Sharks)
Andrew Redmayne (Dundee)
Fergus Scott (Currie)
George Hunter (Ayr)
Darcy Rae (Ayr)

[jimbopip]

I was supposed to go to the game with Jynxjoe but things didn't work out. He went with his boy who isn't in the best of health. He has just FB'ed me a photie of young Matthew and Chris Fusaro immediately after the final whistle. Top marks Fozzy, good man that you are.

[jimbopip]

Ditto Ali Price.
It says something about the character of those players/men that minutes after a very close defeat they can pose for pix, pitchside in the chucking rain, with a boy in a chair.   

[IanBru]

True professionalism that, and the very antithesis of the 'elite sport' mentality shown with your wee boy. I'm pretty shocked having read that!

I grew up in the US and played a lot of 'soccer' (speak as nasally as you can when pronouncing that - this was Ohio). Obviously everyone wanted to win, but the basic rule drilled into all coaches was that if a player turned up, he had to play at some point. For sure, there was a kid called Kurtis Huelssman who didn't understand the concept of 'our goal and their goal', but he played. Sport, particularly with kids, should be about more than just winning.

I'm all for high standards, but for every fifty kids who don't get picked, one of them will be a Lionel Messi, who was told he was too small to make it and became the greatest player to kick a ball.

Look at me, I've gone all wendyfied. I'm off for a shower.

[George Carlin]

In other news Frazier Climo has signed for Scarlets. One that got away?

Apparently his wife is Scottish, and with a christian name like that you've got to assume he has some ancestry.

Did anyone see him play for Ayr?

Yes, for 2 seasons. He looked special.

[yappysnap]

Not sure if you guys are aware but its absolutely torrential rain down here in the SE at the moment, that probably explains all the kicking. Well done Glasgow though a very close game.

Good luck in the Rabo!

[jimbopip]

Ian,  

[21st Century Schizoid Man]

Well that looks a feckin belter of a start for us. Well done to Chris Fusaro and sounds like Scotty Wight had a good un. Anyone know how Byron McG played. Needs a contract that fella !

Jimbo - off to sunnier climes and will miss the Warriors v Blues game but expect you splendid chaps will keep me informed.

[RDW]

Great effort from the weege against a very strong quins team!

[jimbopip]

Schiz, bon voyage you jetsetter you. McGuigan scored a try today but Fozzy is my man of the day.

[InjuredYetAgain]

I should know the answer but are the "home" competitions using the "crouch, bind, set, let's try that again" routine this season?

[RDW]

Yes.

In other news, looks like controversy runs in the Chalmers family - his son has tested positive for a banned substance. Article on BBC sport website

[InjuredYetAgain]

Saw that. What a fud.
And, to make it worse, it was a test when playing for an age group Scotland side. Fair enough if it was one of the border internecine squabbles but to do it when representing his country.

[RDW]

I don't think we should judge him until we hear any details, and we need to be careful with what we say on here (we've had problems in the past).

There's every likelihood that it was from an inhaler or prescription medicine or something - you see cases like this all the time.  I can't imagine the under 20s guys have the biggest support network in terms of dietitians and people making sure they are eating the right things.

[RDW]

Hope you don't mind injured but removed the last line on your post - call it being overly cautious but as I said we have had problems with these kind of things in the past.

[InjuredYetAgain]

Fair do's. it was meant light-heatedly and having a poke at his father's excuse for leaving Chinnor but better safe than sorry.
On a lighter note, I saw a trailer for this year's School of Hard Knocks and it is based in Glasgow. Should be interesting as there must a rich seam of untapped talent in the Weej.

[George Carlin]

IYA - are you really suggesting that Glasgow is full of angry young men who would be particularly apt at knocking their fellows to the ground?

[InjuredYetAgain]

I did hear a rumour to that effect. Unsubstantiated of course
I did hear that boxing had been dropped from the Commonwealth a games and replaced by "square go's"

[InjuredYetAgain]

And the fencing has been renamed "re-setting stolen goods". Competitors have 10 minutes to shift as many hooky electrical goods as possible. Penalty points are incurred for getting arrested.

[jimbopip]

Apparently the re-naming of events extends to the "hop, skip and jump the jail".  (For all Deacon Blue fans out there.)

[George Carlin]

Lots of Glasgwegians have been given jobs at the Hoy Velodrome, though.

Apparently, they're lightning fast at getting wheels off bikes.

[jimbopip]

And will we be abandoning the namby-pamby De Coubertin rules and reverting to the traditional Glaswegian versions; Heider the Hammer and Catch the Javeline ?

[George Carlin]

And will we be abandoning the namby-pamby De Coubertin rules and reverting to the traditional Glaswegian versions; Heider the Hammer and Catch the Javeline ?

 "Catch it, Wullie. Catch it, ya bas. Oh, fer gawd's sake. Medic. Next student onto the field, please."

[InjuredYetAgain]

In fact, chucking the javelin has been replaced by hoying a fridge/freezer off the top floor of a multi storey block of flats and seeing who can get it closes to the car park

[RDW]

http://www.boreme.com/posting.php?id=14437

[George Carlin]

824 posts already. The season better start soon or we'll have blethered to the end of yet another thousand word thread. Respect to us and our verbal di-horreah-hi-hay.

[IanBru]

News up on the twitterfacemybloggoweb of a new signing for Edinburgh.

Odds on this chap having a fondness for biltong?

[jimbopip]

News up on the twitterfacemybloggoweb of a new signing for Edinburgh.

Odds on this chap having a fondness for biltong?

Edinburgh have found an MFL who fancies Biltong?

[GLove39]

Indeed another signing,
Edinburgh Rugby sign versatile front-row forward James Hilterbrand on a from Super Rugby side Western Force. Sounds like a good signing, although not sure if he likes Biltong or not...

[GLove39]

http://www.boreme.com/posting.php?id=14437

  

[RDW]

It's a prop which is positive - anyone know anything else?

I'm assuming he's Australian??

[Weegie Wizard]

I had a look online as I don't remember having seen him on tv and it says he plays hooker.
Seems strange considering the head count already covering that position. Going by the tweet maybe he can play prop as well.

[jimbopip]

On a slight tangent; I suggested to MrsPip that as we return to work next week then a romantic city break might be a good idea.  In my endless quest to bring romance to our marriage I had scoured t'internet and found a city in the west country with a lovely hotel which has a restaurant run by her favourite one-armed chef doing very reasonable room and meal for two deals this weekend. You can imagine the look of joy on her face. It lasted almost a heartbeat then she asked, "Where are Glasgow playing this weekend?" Apparently this makes it LESS romantic.  
Oh well, back to the drawing board.

[RDW]

Oh FFS - he's another bloody hooker!! I seriously hope he can actually prop too!

[IanBru]

Points for effort there, Jimbo!

[IanBru]

It seems like he's actually a combo loose head, tight head and hooker.

I reckon he'll fit in well with our eastern brethren, since he plays all sides of the scrum.

[RDW]

Actually,

Reading the article just posted on the website is does look like a decent move – he’s 24, SQ (Scottish Grand parents and his mum was born in Scotland), can play all of the front row but I suspect he will be used most at LH.

He started against the Lions so he’s obviously rated within his squad – that was at hooker though.

Looks like a good move – let’s just hope he can scrum!

[George Carlin]

Another front row player!!??

[tigertattie]

Hmmmm

I'm having a thought! (yes, its bloomin sore)

If we have him playing loosehead, there is the potential for him to throw at the lineout? Thus negating the knickers throwing of Ross Ford?

I know it could balls up things from a scotland perspective, unless the weegies and show Ryan Grant how to throw into a lineout!

[RDW]

GC – we do really need a 3rd LH, as currently Dickinson is on his own and Robin Hislop long term injured. We have signed this Saffer guy and I’m happy we’ve signed another player who can play LH. When everyone is fit and well that gives us 1 Scottish cap, 1 SQ back up, 1 NSQ backup and a young Scottish player in Hislop.

[justified sinner]

It seems like he's actually a combo loose head, tight head and hooker.

I reckon he'll fit in well with our eastern brethren, since he plays all sides of the scrum.

That sounds awfully like one of those useless multi purpose wrench things you can buy that promises to be the only tool you'll ever need, but in practice does nothing very well and breaks the third time you use it. Not convinced.

[Notch]

Bad news here; Melrose and Scotland U20s player tests positive for a banned substance. Sam Chalmers, son of Craig.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/23821962

We can only hope this is an isolated case rather than the tip of the iceberg.

[Weegie Wizard]

Must be decent enough as he has played age grade for Oz and he might just be there for front row depth.
Other priorities but he could be a useful squad player. I wouldn't get too worried about it.

[RDW]

Bad news here; Melrose and Scotland U20s player tests positive for a banned substance. Sam Chalmers, son of Craig.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/23821962

We can only hope this is an isolated case rather than the tip of the iceberg.

Thanks Notch - we discussed that on page 16 or so!

I do hope it is just an inhaler or over the counter medicine - I'd be very surprised if it was anything worse.

[George Carlin]

GC – we do really need a 3rd LH, as currently Dickinson is on his own and Robin Hislop long term injured.  We have signed this Saffer guy and I’m happy we’ve signed another player who can play LH. When everyone is fit and well that gives us 1 Scottish cap, 1 SQ back up, 1 NSQ backup and a young Scottish player in Hislop.

Oh, I completely agree that it makes sense on the LH side. His official stats have him at 17 stones which isn't huge, but then again Ryan Grant isn't much more than 17 and he's not doing too badly for himself. Very happy to have another SQ on board.

[RDW]

GC – we do really need a 3rd LH, as currently Dickinson is on his own and Robin Hislop long term injured.  We have signed this Saffer guy and I’m happy we’ve signed another player who can play LH. When everyone is fit and well that gives us 1 Scottish cap, 1 SQ back up, 1 NSQ backup and a young Scottish player in Hislop.

Oh, I completely agree that it makes sense on the LH side. His official stats have him at 17 stones which isn't huge, but then again Ryan Grant isn't much more than 17 and he's not doing too badly for himself. Very happy to have another SQ on board.

I’m working on the assumption that he going to be made into a specialist LH, who can cover TH if required. That would make sense. If however he is going to be used as our 6th hooker that would be madness!
At 24 he’s got plenty time to pile on the beef to bring his weight and strength up. One for the future definitely – can see him and Hislop fighting out for 3rd LH spot behind Dikcinson and Blaauw

[Majestic83]

Seen Hilterbrand play a few times for the Force and he is definitely a very good prospect, can play all 3 front row positions but probably best suited to LH

[funnyExiledScot]

It seems like he's actually a combo loose head, tight head and hooker.

I reckon he'll fit in well with our eastern brethren, since he plays all sides of the scrum.

That sounds awfully like one of those useless multi purpose wrench things you can buy that promises to be the only tool you'll ever need, but in practice does nothing very well and breaks the third time you use it. Not convinced.

Oh come on, Jon Welsh is better than that.....

[George Carlin]

It seems like he's actually a combo loose head, tight head and hooker.

I reckon he'll fit in well with our eastern brethren, since he plays all sides of the scrum.

That sounds awfully like one of those useless multi purpose wrench things you can buy that promises to be the only tool you'll ever need, but in practice does nothing very well and breaks the third time you use it. Not convinced.

Oh come on, Jon Welsh is better than that.....

Very brave, calling Big Jon a tool.

[funnyExiledScot]

I'm pretty pleased with the signing, not least because of his age. Plenty time to improve and that he's SQ is an added bonus.

We're still a back row player and a centre short though.

[George Carlin]

Surely having Atiga counts (in terms of bodyweight) as having two centres.

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