Glasgow and Edinburgh 30 - Starting the new season with 2 wins - Long may it continue

First topic message reminder :

Well both Scotland's pro teams got off the mark with a W this weekend, though probably fair to say that Glasgow's was slightly more pleasing on the eye!

Still not to be sniffed at and probably a while since it last happened.

A good omen for the season, let's hope so, though early season games are not always a predictor of longer term performance. Both sides still got plenty of players to bring back into the fold and a lot of improvement to make.

Roll on 2023/24!

Going to be hard enough getting the squad there by the sound of things! Talk of multiple flights, players needing to have different travel plans etc.

For all the good having SA in the competition has brought, the travel really is a major issue at short notice like this.

I think they need to do it like the Heineken cup and choose a venue the year before to allow for travel arrangements, especially as SA isn't the easiest to get to even without it being last minute!

With all that in mind I can't see Glasgow pulling a last rabbit out of the hat but it's nice going to a final with no expectations!

NeilyBroon wrote:I think they need to do it like the Heineken cup and choose a venue the year before to allow for travel arrangements, especially as SA isn't the easiest to get to even without it being last minute!

With all that in mind I can't see Glasgow pulling a last rabbit out of the hat but it's nice going to a final with no expectations!

It's still a problem though that the team won't know until a week before if they would actually need to fly there for the final or not. Would they pre book 50 odd plane seats plus all the kit just in case? Probably not.

And the problem will come when it is SA's turn and none of the Saffer teams make the final, so both teams have to travel a long way to basically play in front of an empty stadium!

RDW wrote:

NeilyBroon wrote:I think they need to do it like the Heineken cup and choose a venue the year before to allow for travel arrangements, especially as SA isn't the easiest to get to even without it being last minute!

With all that in mind I can't see Glasgow pulling a last rabbit out of the hat but it's nice going to a final with no expectations!

It's still a problem though that the team won't know until a week before if they would actually need to fly there for the final or not. Would they pre book 50 odd plane seats plus all the kit just in case? Probably not.

And the problem will come when it is SA's turn and none of the Saffer teams make the final, so both teams have to travel a long way to basically play in front of an empty stadium!

Could the urc organisers not have one chartered flight there? There must be a way it's been done with football etc! I know there's less money but surely there's enough to cover a flight!

The second point is more tricky as of course it works both ways...

https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/hamish-bain-after-my-first-ball-carry-i-felt-a-finger-in-my-eye-what/

Great read this one, and a very funny anecdote about a steak. Also, what ever happened to the stade niçoise deal? Was it binned?

It got me thinking that perhaps the SRU need a dedicated programme that allocates emerging talent to second or third tier clubs in Europe? Those who can’t find pro contracts in Scotland or get little or no game time could be finding the game time they need abroad.

bsando wrote:https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/hamish-bain-after-my-first-ball-carry-i-felt-a-finger-in-my-eye-what/

Great read this one, and a very funny anecdote about a steak. Also, what ever happened to the stade niçoise deal? Was it binned?

It got me thinking that perhaps the SRU need a dedicated programme that allocates emerging talent to second or third tier clubs in Europe? Those who can’t find pro contracts in Scotland or get little or no game time could be finding the game time they need abroad.

It'd be nice to see a few of these players push forward to national selection, it's frustrating that we have a great international scouting team yet these players seem to end up in the rugby wilderness from our own set up. The idea of a third pro team is just that, a nice idea but you do feel that a lot of the talent in the club academies is largely wasted, especially Edinburgh side.

We'll I have now got to The Dear Green Place, The second City of the Empire and my dad's home town.

Had a great ride over from Dunoon today. I took a diversion down into rural Argyll to see the place my mum was born.

She was born in the West Lodge of the Knockdow Estate near Dunoon. Amazingly enough, the building is still there, albeit in no great shape. Both my grandparents worked on the Estate, now owned by a Russian Oligarch, which probably says a lot about how society has changed in this country as well.

It was a fabulous experience just wondering about how people lived in such an isolated place back in the 1930's and marveling at how my family has progressed over the last couple of generations.

I am feeling good and managing the distances we'll and my Just Giving page is now over £2000 pounds.

Off to Selkirk tomorrow and then England awaits.

The Hoggy to Montpellier news seems to be basically done and dusted. 2 year deal apparently with an option to extend to 3! Bizzare, bizzare, bizzare but then again what do we know

RDW wrote:The Hoggy to Montpellier news seems to be basically done and dusted. 2 year deal apparently with an option to extend to 3! Bizzare, bizzare, bizzare but then again what do we know

Probably just the right distance for his restraining order.

Good luck to him, don't think we'll see him in blue again if that's what he's expecting!

BigGee wrote:We'll I have now got to The Dear Green Place, The second City of the Empire and my dad's home town.

Had a great ride over from Dunoon today. I took a diversion down into rural Argyll to see the place my mum was born.

She was born in the West Lodge of the Knockdow Estate near Dunoon. Amazingly enough, the building is still there, albeit in no great shape. Both my grandparents worked on the Estate, now owned by a Russian Oligarch, which probably says a lot about how society has changed in this country as well.

It was a fabulous experience just wondering about how people lived in such an isolated place back in the 1930's and marveling at how my family has progressed over the last couple of generations.

I am feeling good and managing the distances we'll and my Just Giving page is now over £2000 pounds.

Off to Selkirk tomorrow and then England awaits.

Probs missed it, pop the link on Gee old chap

Made it to Selkirk today

That is a bumpy old road down from Glasgow

https://www.justgiving.com/page/grahame-dick-1715528190885

For Tatties and anyone else interested

Many thanks

BG