Glasgow and The Disapproving Neighbours 18 At Last! Whose Round is it?

by jimbopip Thu 07 Sep 2017, 1:42 pm

First topic message reminder :

I'll Put A Funny Sub-Title Here

Insert funny image here, probably of a genuine Glaswegian; none of your See-an Canary nonsense here.

Insert an image summing up the pretentiousness of Luvviedom. Grant Gilchrist in a kilt eating shortbread?

Add some statistics; time elapsed, in decades, since Ickle Jonny missed a tackle. Time elapsed, in eons, since someone stayed awake for the whole 80 minutes at the Library.

Make some witty banterish comment to start the ball rolling.

See! How hard was that? Hug

by **RDW** Mon 06 Nov 2017, 10:17 pm

Siua Halanukonuka has arrived in Glasgow - can't remember him ever signing but looking forward to hearing Hugh Dan pronounce his name!

by A Simply Mesmeric Try Tue 07 Nov 2017, 4:18 am

RDW_Scotland wrote:Siua Halanukonuka has arrived in Glasgow - can't remember him ever signing but looking forward to hearing Hugh Dan pronounce his name!

Great news. Just when Glasgow lose Fagerson Snr to the Scotland camp. Rennie has planned this well. Young Adam Nicol has been alright so far too.

Ha-lanu-ko-nuka. Easy. Whistle

It'll be worth a listen for sure!

He was announced back in August. He had Mitre Cup responsibilities for the Tasman Makos, like Huw Jones had with Western Province in the Currie Cup.

by **George Carlin** Tue 07 Nov 2017, 4:42 am

RDW_Scotland wrote:Siua Halanukonuka has arrived in Glasgow - can't remember him ever signing but looking forward to hearing Hugh Dan pronounce his name!

Let's just get the nickname sorted now:

Siua Later
The Nuka-lear Option
Tongan Tugboat

Any good?

I have no doubt that for Hugh Dan, he will quickly become Siua in the same way that Mr Yanuyanutawa very quickly became 'Jerry'.

He should be good. 31 so in his prime. He played quite a bit for the Highlanders, so this shouldn't be a step up.

Most amusingly he has been assigned to my old club Marr for the Prem season. He'll be a smash hit at the Fullarton clubhouse. Hope he can understand the Ayshire accent, likesay,

by **RDW** Tue 07 Nov 2017, 7:32 am

A Simply Mesmeric Try wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:Siua Halanukonuka has arrived in Glasgow - can't remember him ever signing but looking forward to hearing Hugh Dan pronounce his name!

Great news. Just when Glasgow lose Fagerson Snr to the Scotland camp. Rennie has planned this well. Young Adam Nicol has been alright so far too.

Ha-lanu-ko-nuka. Easy.

It'll be worth a listen for sure!

He was announced back in August. He had Mitre Cup responsibilities for the Tasman Makos, like Huw Jones had with Western Province in the Currie Cup.

Listening to his brief interview on Twitter I think it is a bit more flowing - Hala-nukonuka. Or as someone on Twitter said "give me an H!"

It certainly is a good time to bring in s super rugby calibre tighthead but 3 weeks is a bit short to get him fully fit and firing for the Glasgow way. I'm not overly convinced by Mr D'Arcy so hopefully he'll give a bit more stability.

by A Simply Mesmeric Try Tue 07 Nov 2017, 2:57 pm

George Carlin wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:Siua Halanukonuka has arrived in Glasgow - can't remember him ever signing but looking forward to hearing Hugh Dan pronounce his name!
Let's just get the nickname sorted now:

Siua Later
The Nuka-lear Option
Tongan Tugboat

Any good?

"He got nuked!" when he inevitably smashes someone Laugh

by A Simply Mesmeric Try Tue 07 Nov 2017, 3:04 pm

And who else is left in the front row for Edinburgh's South African safari? It's just Rizzo, Fenton and McCallum who aren't injured or in the Scotland camp.

I guess Marfo, Cochrane and Bergan will be released barring no other injuries...

by **RDW** Tue 07 Nov 2017, 3:06 pm

A Simply Mesmeric Try wrote:And who else is left in the front row for Edinburgh's South African safari? It's just Rizzo, Fenton and McCallum who aren't injured or in the Scotland camp.

I guess Marfo, Cochrane and Bergan will be released barring no other injuries...

See my post from yesterday!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Ross Ford has been ruled out for 4 months.

Scottish rugby as a whole are in a bit of a front row crisis just now due to an unprecedented injury list. With the AIs coming up the Scotland team are having to take whoever is left standing on 2 legs into the squad, meaning Glasgow and Edinburgh are down to the absolute bare bones.

I know that not all of the Scotland players will end up in the test 23, but there is usually an extra travelling hooker and prop to cover any late calloffs on the day. This makes things even more difficult for Edinburgh in particular as they are going to be in South Africa the week building up to the Australia game and then the week after.

Injured

LH – Al Dickinson, Alan Dell, Gordon Reid
H – Ross Ford, Fraser Brown

Scotland squad

LH – Darryl Marfo, Jamie Bhattie , Rory Sutherland (and he’s literally just returned!)
H – Stuart McInally, George Turner, Neil Cochrane

Remaining in Edinburgh (and fit)

LH – Rizzo, McCallum (technically a tighthead now)
H – Crosbie

Remaining in Glasgow (and fit)

LH – Allan, Grant
H- McArthur, Malcolm

If one more loosehead or hooker gets injured we’re going to be in real trouble!

by A Simply Mesmeric Try Tue 07 Nov 2017, 3:37 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:
A Simply Mesmeric Try wrote:And who else is left in the front row for Edinburgh's South African safari? It's just Rizzo, Fenton and McCallum who aren't injured or in the Scotland camp.

I guess Marfo, Cochrane and Bergan will be released barring no other injuries...

See my post from yesterday!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Ross Ford has been ruled out for 4 months.

Scottish rugby as a whole are in a bit of a front row crisis just now due to an unprecedented injury list. With the AIs coming up the Scotland team are having to take whoever is left standing on 2 legs into the squad, meaning Glasgow and Edinburgh are down to the absolute bare bones.

I know that not all of the Scotland players will end up in the test 23, but there is usually an extra travelling hooker and prop to cover any late calloffs on the day. This makes things even more difficult for Edinburgh in particular as they are going to be in South Africa the week building up to the Australia game and then the week after.

Injured

LH – Al Dickinson, Alan Dell, Gordon Reid
H – Ross Ford, Fraser Brown

Scotland squad

LH – Darryl Marfo, Jamie Bhattie , Rory Sutherland (and he’s literally just returned!)
H – Stuart McInally, George Turner, Neil Cochrane

Remaining in Edinburgh (and fit)

LH – Rizzo, McCallum (technically a tighthead now)
H – Crosbie

Remaining in Glasgow (and fit)

LH – Allan, Grant
H- McArthur, Malcolm

If one more loosehead or hooker gets injured we’re going to be in real trouble!

Yeah, Embra are fooked if they lose another prop, although surely Glasgow can pull up some academy LH prop if Allen or Grant get called up?

by EWT Spoons Wed 08 Nov 2017, 11:26 am

Not sure if anyone listens to the rugby pod, but Andy Goode claims he was speaking to Brian Redpath at a game recently and he was saying his son is likely to opt for England, due to the money, should he be given the option, instead of Scotland.

Could be 100% rubbish as Goode doesn't exactly seem the most reliable source, but if true, pretty disappointing.

by tigertattie Wed 08 Nov 2017, 12:11 pm

EWT Spoons wrote:Not sure if anyone listens to the rugby pod, but Andy Goode claims he was speaking to Brian Redpath at a game recently and he was saying his son is likely to opt for England, due to the money, should he be given the option, instead of Scotland.

Could be 100% rubbish as Goode doesn't exactly seem the most reliable source, but if true, pretty disappointing.

I need to make it clear from the outset that I'm not good enough, nor have I ever been good enough, to play international/Pro/ rugby (or Club/Schoolboy rugby many would say)

But if I was given the choice of Scotland vs England I'd always opt for Scotland. I mean realistically, what would the difference in pay between the two be? I just couldn't bring myself to put on a white shirt

by **RDW** Wed 08 Nov 2017, 12:14 pm

tigertattie wrote:
EWT Spoons wrote:Not sure if anyone listens to the rugby pod, but Andy Goode claims he was speaking to Brian Redpath at a game recently and he was saying his son is likely to opt for England, due to the money, should he be given the option, instead of Scotland.

Could be 100% rubbish as Goode doesn't exactly seem the most reliable source, but if true, pretty disappointing.

I need to make it clear from the outset that I'm not good enough, nor have I ever been good enough, to play international/Pro/ rugby (or Club/Schoolboy rugby many would say)

But if I was given the choice of Scotland vs England I'd always opt for Scotland. I mean realistically, what would the difference in pay between the two be? I just couldn't bring myself to put on a white shirt

I think the difference is double and going to get more – from memeory Scotland players get 5k and England get 10k but England players are soon going to negotiate a lot more.

It’s also worth noting that Redpath jnr has spent all his formative years in England so probably has a different view of the red rose than you do!

The other thing is that if he plays for Scotland he’s going to struggle to maintain a professional career in England as he will be classed as an NEQ so may be less attractive to Prem clubs.

If Michael Lynagh’s son can play for England then anything can happen!

by EWT Spoons Wed 08 Nov 2017, 12:21 pm

Rumours are that england players get about £22k per game (it seems to have come up as a result of the Samoa issue). That's a sizable wedge and I doubt the SRU could come close to that.

Also as RDW says, Redpath has spent most of his days in England and has played with their youth teams.

by Welly Wed 08 Nov 2017, 1:21 pm

Cameron Redpath was born in France, lived in England pretty much his whole life after that by the sounds of it certainly the majority of his education, been in Sale sharks academy for 4 was in the West brom academy for abit.

It isn't exactly clear cut really to be fair and whilst money prob played a factor if he chooses England it prob wouldn't be the only factor.

England players get paid 22K that deals runs till 2020 the players union wanted 25K though.

by Hazel Sapling Wed 08 Nov 2017, 1:43 pm

If he wants to go for money, he is welcome. It is not like T Allan where the SRU forked out for his rugby education.

Speaking of the money issue and how it can work out negatively, an example would be when Rokoduguni chose to play for England. An excellent winger in my view, he would have got 30-40 caps for Scotland with the way our wing depth is. He likely won't get to 10 for England. He would have likely played in the World Cup in 2015 and have a shot for 2019 with Scotland. England has a lot of 1-5 cap players who do not get another series to prove themselves.

Bassett may find out the hard way as he turns 26 this 6 nations that he is unlikely to get into the World Cup with England but he has a shot at the Scotland side if he changes in the next year.

Club money is better in England than in Scotland; club money is better in France than in England and they don't care if you are Scots or English. If you think you are good enough to go pro and succeed at Sale enough to play internationally, I think Edinburgh or Glasgow will pick you up if a French team or Sale don't.

by Welly Wed 08 Nov 2017, 2:41 pm

Hazel Sapling wrote:If he wants to go for money, he is welcome. It is not like T Allan where the SRU forked out for his rugby education.

Speaking of the money issue and how it can work out negatively, an example would be when Rokoduguni chose to play for England. An excellent winger in my view, he would have got 30-40 caps for Scotland with the way our wing depth is. He likely won't get to 10 for England. He would have likely played in the World Cup in 2015 and have a shot for 2019 with Scotland. England has a lot of 1-5 cap players who do not get another series to prove themselves.

Bassett may find out the hard way as he turns 26 this 6 nations that he is unlikely to get into the World Cup with England but he has a shot at the Scotland side if he changes in the next year.

Club money is better in England than in Scotland; club money is better in France than in England and they don't care if you are Scots or English. If you think you are good enough to go pro and succeed at Sale enough to play internationally, I think Edinburgh or Glasgow will pick you up if a French team or Sale don't.

How is roko scottish Qualified?

by **George Carlin** Wed 08 Nov 2017, 2:44 pm

Welly wrote:
Hazel Sapling wrote:If he wants to go for money, he is welcome. It is not like T Allan where the SRU forked out for his rugby education.

Speaking of the money issue and how it can work out negatively, an example would be when Rokoduguni chose to play for England. An excellent winger in my view, he would have got 30-40 caps for Scotland with the way our wing depth is. He likely won't get to 10 for England. He would have likely played in the World Cup in 2015 and have a shot for 2019 with Scotland. England has a lot of 1-5 cap players who do not get another series to prove themselves.

Bassett may find out the hard way as he turns 26 this 6 nations that he is unlikely to get into the World Cup with England but he has a shot at the Scotland side if he changes in the next year.

Club money is better in England than in Scotland; club money is better in France than in England and they don't care if you are Scots or English. If you think you are good enough to go pro and succeed at Sale enough to play internationally, I think Edinburgh or Glasgow will pick you up if a French team or Sale don't.

How is roko scottish Qualified?

He once ate a square slice in a floury bap outside Queen Street station.

By the time he realised what he'd done, it was too late. He'd swallowed and Scott Johnson immediately got a text message.

by EWT Spoons Wed 08 Nov 2017, 2:45 pm

Have you not heard of the Rokoduguni clan. They hail from just outside Cowdenbeath

Yeah no idea either.

by EWT Spoons Wed 08 Nov 2017, 3:25 pm

Apparently Edinburgh are eyeing up a young SA fly half called Jaco van der Walt.

I know nothing about the lad, but here's his wikipedia page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaco_van_der_Walt

by **RDW** Wed 08 Nov 2017, 3:33 pm

Edinburgh have a terrible track record of bringing in foreign 10s (Carl Bezuidenhout anyone?) - let's hope this lad is a bit more successful.

by EWT Spoons Wed 08 Nov 2017, 3:39 pm

He's being signed on a 3 year deal and was released from his lions contract last week....residency anyone?!

by EWT Spoons Wed 08 Nov 2017, 3:44 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:Edinburgh have a terrible track record of bringing in ~~foreign~~ 10s (Carl Bezuidenhout anyone?) - let's hope this lad is a bit more successful.

I don't think the foreign part was needed, I can't remember the last 10 to play for the club who was anything better than meh.

by **RDW** Wed 08 Nov 2017, 3:53 pm

I suppose my point was that we have brought in numerous players to fill the void at 10 (probably at reasonable expense) and none of them have been any good.

Let's just ignore the fact that Piers Francis now plays for England...

by **BigGee** Wed 08 Nov 2017, 3:55 pm

Nothing official from Edinburgh yet, but a three year contract suggests residence and not a Scottish Granny.

Still he has been playing at a decent standard and is the right age. Giving him three years suggests they must be quite confident in him, none of the others got that kind of a vote of confidence.

He has been released from his contract, so does that mean he is coming soon. Edinburgh are only one injury away from a crisis at FH, so in many ways the sooner the better.

by EWT Spoons Wed 08 Nov 2017, 3:55 pm

From a quick glance on Twitter seems folks are surprised he was released from his contract (along with 17 others, the majority of whom they seem nonplussed by) and he seems to score the odd try and has a pretty good kicking record.

Only downside is he seems to be played at 15 a fair bit.

Conveniently he's probably still in SA so might be able to join up with the squad whilst they're over there.

by **BigGee** Wed 08 Nov 2017, 3:57 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:I suppose my point was that we have brought in numerous players to fill the void at 10 (probably at reasonable expense) and none of them have been any good.

Let's just ignore the fact that Piers Francis now plays for England...

To be fair, none of the others probably cost much at all, none of them were household names and had much playing pedigree.

This guy does seem to have a better CV.

by EWT Spoons Wed 08 Nov 2017, 3:58 pm

BigGee wrote:Nothing official from Edinburgh yet, but a three year contract suggests residence and not a Scottish Granny.

Still he has been playing at a decent standard and is the right age. Giving him three years suggests they must be quite confident in him, none of the others got that kind of a vote of confidence.

He has been released from his contract, so does that mean he is coming soon. Edinburgh are only one injury away from a crisis at FH, so in many ways the sooner the better.

Considering our other option currently is Weir, it would be easy to suggest we are already in the middle of a FH crisis Smile

by Hazel Sapling Wed 08 Nov 2017, 6:03 pm

Cockerill gets to mould a young fly half. He did have some success with Ford, Williams and Burns but not to the extent one would hope.

Roko qualifies by the army I thought. Think he served in Scotland. Like Junior did last year.

by **BigGee** Wed 08 Nov 2017, 6:57 pm

Hazel Sapling wrote:

Roko qualifies by the army I thought. Think he served in Scotland. Like Junior did last year.

Roko serves in the Scots Dragoon Guards, but is based in England. The Scottish connection is that he serves in a Scottish regiment. I am not sure if that qualifies him or not (all a bit academic really, as he has been capped by England). Maybe foreign born soldiers, like Channel Islanders (think Budge Poultney) can chose which nation they wish to represent. I see no reason why they should not, serving in the army makes them British in my books.

Junior and his brothers are a bit different, their father was in the army as well and they grew up in Scotland.

by tigertattie Thu 09 Nov 2017, 9:38 am

Wasn't Budge from SA?

by **BigGee** Thu 09 Nov 2017, 9:47 am

tigertattie wrote:Wasn't Budge from SA?

No, definitely channel isles. No other connection to Scotland (well none at all really).

McGeechan was coach at Northants at the time and that persuaded him.

by funnyExiledScot Thu 09 Nov 2017, 8:32 pm

Always had time for Poutney, a very honest player. Gave away too many penalties mind you!

by TJ Fri 10 Nov 2017, 7:16 am

I thought Pountney a classic example of getting it wrong. a player who was not going to get selected for any other side ( he like all channel islanders can play for any of the home nations) and at best a good club player. He had no commitment to scotland at all just to himself. A mercenary of the worst sort and not international standard

fortunately these days we have a decent line in scots being developed and can be somewhat more choosy about who we bring in.

by **RDW** Fri 10 Nov 2017, 8:45 am

I think that is very harsh TJ - one thing you couldn't level against Pountey is not being committed. This is the guy who felt so strongly about the amateur way that the national team was being run that he retired from international rugby because of it so that things would have to change!

Some quotes from a BBC article last year:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35391926

So when Sir Ian McGeechan, the Scotland coach who spent five years in charge at Saints before returning to the national set-up, drew Pountney's attention north, he had an interested customer.

"I loved the passion, I loved the energy; I'm all about that," Pountney says. "That's how I played.

"It made much more sense, bizarrely, than playing for England, even though I was brought up in England all my life.

"Scotland gave me something I fitted into a whole lot more and something I was very passionate about. I hope that showed in the way I played."

Pountney, who had suffered a gruesome recent injury that resulted in him losing a testicle, saw all this in stinging contrast to the lavish affairs of Scottish Rugby's "blazered brigade".

His resentment festered until he decided drastic action was needed. At just 29, he walked out of a national training session at Murrayfield, never to play international rugby again.

"It was the only thing I could think of that was going to have an immediate effect, start people talking and questioning things," he said. "Maybe further down the line, it would get better for everybody else.

"Playing for Scotland was the best thing I've ever done in rugby. Leaving left a huge hole in my playing character, my playing life, but it was something I felt was so right, I had to do.

"Some people said, 'Oh, you'll live to regret that'. I don't."

by TJ Fri 10 Nov 2017, 10:18 am

Committed to playing rugby yes. Committed to the country no. My opinion. Was he not going to be had been dropped anyway? I thought he was but that could be faulty memory.

I have no time for mercenaries who play for Scotland but don't make the country their home.

by **RDW** Fri 10 Nov 2017, 11:16 am

Am interested to hear what you base that decision on, because to come to that conclusion you would either have to have known what he was like as a person at the time, or would base it on his actions off the pitch or in the media.

I found the article from when he quit - again some quotes from someone who knows a lot about pride in playing for your country...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/2704903.stm

Scotland coach Ian McGeechan has reluctantly accepted Pountney's decision to quit.

"Budge has given tremendous, unstinting service to the Scotland team - and I want to place on record the appreciation of everyone at Murrayfield for his commitment," he said.

But his disgust with Scottish rugby's governing body has seen him quit the Test arena, possibly for good.

"I'm slogging my guts out, prepared to take risks, and so are all the players involved with the Scotland and Scotland A squads, but people around us couldn't care less," Pountney told The Scotsman newspaper.

He was even made captain by Geech and Telfer - those guys wouldn't have done that if they thought he was only in it for himself and didn't care about Scotland!

He gave up the chance to play international rugby so that changes would be made for the sake of the team - to me that in no way suggests a selfish player who only cared for himself.

by **George Carlin** Sat 11 Nov 2017, 5:22 am

I think that Poutney is the dog's bollock.

by **RDW** Sat 11 Nov 2017, 8:47 am

George Carlin wrote:I think that Poutney is the dog's bollock.

by Welly Sat 11 Nov 2017, 1:04 pm

I'm Hoping Tigers will recall Rizzo for the prem next weekend our LH options are slim now.

Wonder what the deal is between Tigers and Edinburgh.

by MacKnocked-on Sat 11 Nov 2017, 1:15 pm

Looks like Connor Eastgate had a strong game for Wasps last night, and James Lang finished off the win for Quins against Sarries last week. Good to see some young SQ 10s doing well down south when they're given the chance.

by Welly Sun 12 Nov 2017, 1:06 pm

Will Hurrell of Bristol is said to be signed by Edinburgh next season.

He is a really good player IMO, big ball running and prob was the best defensive back in the prem last season.

Wonder if he is Scottish qualified?

by **RDW** Sun 12 Nov 2017, 1:14 pm

Position?

by Hazel Sapling Sun 12 Nov 2017, 2:03 pm

Centre. Good player in the way of a Jamie Roberts type from the way Doncaster (I think; championship final against Bristol a couple of years ago is where I remember him from) used him. Assume he would replace Ras.

by Welly Sun 12 Nov 2017, 2:17 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:Position?

12 and 13.

Saying that he also had the most turnovers won in the prem at one point last season i think.

by **BigGee** Tue 14 Nov 2017, 10:22 am

That well known rugby journal 'The Sun' is now also predicting that John Barclay coming to Edinburgh on a three year deal.

Sounds like Cockers happy to nail his colours to the mast and JB happy to finish his career in Scotland.

by **BigGee** Tue 14 Nov 2017, 10:26 am

Just struck me as well this morning, that we have not seen sight nor sound of Robbie Fruen on the Edinburgh front for some time now.

They seem to be doing ok without him, but it would be a shame if he turns out to be a damp squib of a signing, blighted by injury, after all the hype surrounding his signing. Hopefully he goes down to SA next week on tour and proves me wrong.

by **RDW** Tue 14 Nov 2017, 10:55 am

I was thinking about that recently too – he started to get a run of games but hasn’t been seen since, just as he must have been regaining match fitness. As you say we haven’t really missed him with JJ, Dean, Burleigh and Ras all putting in good performances. Maybe that’s why we haven’t seen him!

When he signed I desperately wanted it to work out as for years I’ve been saying we need a physical, hard running 13 for our backline and he is exactly that. Currently his absence isn’t being noticed, especially given that lack of Edinburgh representation in the Scotland backline.

Edinburgh are much less public about injuries under Cockerill so we never really know who is injured, other than the occasional news bulletin about the longer term injuries.

by tigertattie Tue 14 Nov 2017, 11:26 am

BigGee wrote:That well known rugby journal 'The Sun' is now also predicting that John Barclay coming to Edinburgh on a three year deal.

Sounds like Cockers happy to nail his colours to the mast and JB happy to finish his career in Scotland.

Good for JB and good for Edinburgh but not good for Scotland.

JB plying his trade down in sheep country allows a space at Edinburgh for a yongster to work his way up the ranks.

If JB comes to Edinburgh then one of either Bradbury, Ritchie or Watson will lose out!

by **BigGee** Tue 14 Nov 2017, 11:33 am

tigertattie wrote:
BigGee wrote:That well known rugby journal 'The Sun' is now also predicting that John Barclay coming to Edinburgh on a three year deal.

Sounds like Cockers happy to nail his colours to the mast and JB happy to finish his career in Scotland.

Good for JB and good for Edinburgh but not good for Scotland.

JB plying his trade down in sheep country allows a space at Edinburgh for a yongster to work his way up the ranks.

If JB comes to Edinburgh then one of either Bradbury, Ritchie or Watson will lose out!

I don't know about that.

I think there should be enough game time with some sensible rotation to suit all of them. There is a WC to fit in during that time, which will deplete the ranks somewhat and you would imagine that JB will need to be managed a bit during that three years, he is 32 already I believe.

You would imagine that the Fijian, Mata, may well be off. He does not seem to have featured much and it looks as if he is another one that just does not seem to have worked out.

by nickj Tue 14 Nov 2017, 12:31 pm

I hope Robbie wasn't keeping Hardie company on their night out.

by EWT Spoons Wed 15 Nov 2017, 12:13 pm

Barclay signed for Edinburgh now confirmed on BBC website:

bbc wrote:Scotland captain John Barclay has agreed to join Edinburgh from Scarlets from next season.

The back-row has been with the Welsh region since leaving Glasgow Warriors in 2013, and captained them to the Pro12 title last year.

Capped 64 times by Scotland, Barclay will bring a wealth of experience to a side that has placed no higher than eighth in the last six league seasons.

Edinburgh are expected to formally announce his signing next week.

Head coach Richard Cockerill surprised many by naming young back-row Magnus Bradbury as captain at the start of the season, only to strip the player of that title following on off-field misdemeanour.

The arrival of Barclay, who is set to lead Scotland against New Zealand at Murrayfield on Saturday, continues Cockerill's remodelling of Edinburgh's squad.

The future of another Edinburgh and Scotland back-row, John Hardie, is unclear as he remains the subject of an ongoing internal disciplinary investigation into alleged cocaine use.

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