A Galloway Irishman In Charge - That's All Glasgow Needs

IN THE pecking order of who do we tell jokes about, the “Galloway Irishmen” from Stranraer and the Rhinns of Galloway perhaps rank just behind Fifers as the folk most-likely to give the rest of us a feeling of superiority.

Dave Rennie - A Govan Welcome

But, in Rugby Union terms, can I just say, nobody relishes a trip to Wigtownshire, a pack loaded with Drysdales, Parkers and the like was a unit to respect, and while big Jim McConnell was as daft as a brush, he and Erle Mitchell set a very high bar for University lock partnerships.

So, I was delighted to learn at yesterday's Glasgow Warriors “Meet the Coaches” event, that new High Heid Yin Dave Rennie is indeed, by blood if not actual birth: “A Galloway Irishman”. He'll dae.

Rennie was certainly impressive and I can see him moving-on the already formidable Warriors' machine. The players had, just maybe, become too-used to Gregor's voice last season – they have a new one to listen to this time round; fresh ideas and that well-known New Zealand abrasiveness to contend with.

If there is a constant thread running through Rennie's career it is his ability to bring through young talent. He made his name as coach of the “Baby Blacks”, and his Chiefs' squads have always had a good smattering of youthful talent through them.

This is good news for the younger Warriors, and we should be prepared to see the likes of Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, George Horne, Adam Hastings and maybe Stafford McDowall in action against Northampton on Saturday.

 Young George Horne - a "world class" fitness test

Warriors' players were subjected to a “Bronco” test this week. This apparently is a series of shuttle runs: 20 metres, 40 metres, 60 metres, 80 metres then 100 metres, to be run non-stop. Young George Horne reportedly posted a “world-class” time, in the area normally only frequented by All Black pivot five players. The younger Horne is seemingly one to watch this season, although, old war-horse Henry Pyrgos wasn't too-far behind him.

Asked which players had impressed him thus far, Rennie went with the usual suspects – Hogg, Russell, Gray etc, but, he did include Ryan Wilson. He may not know what “gallus” - that near-undefinable Glasgow quality – is, but, he knows gallus when he sees it.

Clearly the progression from Townsend's Warriors to Rennie's Warriors is a work in progress – I look forward to watching that progression.

The Rennie unveiling was conducted in one of these new glass palace hotels which have sprung-up around the city. This one is across the road from the BBC, so we had to circumvent some “lovies” to get in, but, it was in Govan – how appropriate that the new Head Coach was introduced in the home village of these two seminal Glasgow leaders, Sir Alex Ferguson and the late Jimmy Reid.

Jimmy Reid - Rennie could be as charasmatic a leader

With Rennie's Warriors, there will be: no hooliganism, no vandalism, no bevvying and, hopefully, a lot of trophies.

ALL is quiet on the Super Six front this week – mainly because, as yet, nothing has emerged from Wednesday night's Premiership Forum meeting, but, we are listening carefully. I have heard it said we should keep an eye on Raeburn Place, with regard to the Edinburgh franchise.

It seems, if Accies can successfully emerge from the Court of Session with the right result in a battle – apparently over about a two feet wide strip of grass – with Grange Cricket Club, then the Raeburn Place re-development can go ahead, and, with their contacts in the capital's financial community – Accies just might emerge as the club most-likely to put together a successful franchise bid.

At times like these you always get the odd story which stretches into the realms of fantasy, but still makes a good conversation topic in the club bar. So, how's about Cartha-Queen's Park for the Glasgow franchise.

This is based on the fact that Sale Sharks owner Brian Kennedy parks his helicopter at Drumbreck whenever he flies into the city to visit his elderly mother. Glasgow Sharks – connected to the Sale variety, hmm! Might work, just sayin'.

SCOTTISH rugby has this week lost three of its great club men. First to go was Gavin Calder – the eldest of the Stewart's-Melville Calders – himself, Fin, Jim and John.

The late Gavin Calder

No mean player himself in his youth, Gavin never reached the heights of his younger twin brothers, but, he did just about everything there was to do around Inverleith, latterly as the match-day announcer. He will be a sore loss to the club.

And, across in Glasgow, that hero of South side rugby, Billy Barnes, a weel-kent face around Drumbreck and Braidholm, also gained admittance to the great club house in the sky. Another big loss to the game.

Then, this morning, Watsonians announced the passing of former club president Mike Barrie, a weel-kent and respected face around Myreside.

I AM absolutely delighted to see young Darcy Graham included in Scotland's 1-strong squad which will attend a two-day training camp, at St Andrew's next week.

Darcy Graham - in the training squad

The Next Big Thing out of Hawick, is one of a handful of promising young players whom Gregor Townsend has invited into the squad, to have a look at.

It is only a training get-together, however, so, I would not read too-much into who's been brought in and who's been left-out. The early season form will have as much to do with who makes it into the squad for the Autumn internationals as selection, or non-selection for this two-day get-together, but, maybe one or two absentees have been given a gentle buck up your ideas wink.

The full squad is:

BACKS: Phil Burleigh (Edinburgh Rugby), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby), Nick Grigg, Pete Horne, Rory Hughes, Huw Jones, Lee Jones ( all Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Clermont Auvergne), Sean Maitland (Saracens), Ali Price, Henry Pyrgos, Finn Russell, Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Taylor (Saracens), Greig Tonks (London Irish), Tim Visser (Harlequins).

FORWARDS: John Barclay (Scarlets), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors), Magnus Bradbury, Anton Bresler (both Edinburgh Rugby), Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Ross Ford, Grant Gilchrist, John Hardie, Stuart McInally, Willem Nel (Edinburgh Rugby), Gordon Reid (London Irish), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby), Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors), Ben Toolis, Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors).

Injured players invited to camp: Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Allan Dell (Edinburgh Rugby), David Denton (Worcester Warriors), Jonny Gray, Rob Harley, Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors)
Not considered through injury: Mark Bennett, Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby), Richie Gray (Toulouse), Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh).