The Heart Rate Rises As This Week Progresses

YOU CAN TELL a new season is just about to kick-off, by the suddenly increased volume of press releases thudding into the old inbox. Most of these are quickly read then binned, only the SRU-generated stuff, from the Union itself, Glasgow and Edinburgh gets kept – you never know when you might need evidence.

The SRU's week-ahead media briefing email is a constant, normally landing at tea-time on a Friday. I have a theory sending-out this email is the last thing Matt Horler and his team does on a Friday night. I can see it now: “Right team – get that out and let's hit the pub.” Mind you, I think they've maybe hurried the last two – there was no mention of the SRU Charity Shield game in last week's release, and they might have remembered the new club league season kicks-off officially this Saturday.

The start of the PRO14 will be, naturally, THE big event of the weekend, with, hopefully, Edinburgh and Glasgow making winning starts under their new Head Coaches. We await, with keen interest, the team announcements, particularly from Glasgow. Will the Scotland contingent be sent over the top, or will they be eased in off the bench, given how well the journeymen have performed thus far?

new Edinburgh captain Magnus Bradbury.

Richard Cockerill certainly settled one debate on Monday, when he confirmed Magnus Bradbury as the new capital captain. There is an old SRU tradition of rewarding sons, and even sons-in-laws of High Heid Yins with caps, which were not always justified.

I can honestly say, even if his mother had not been vice-president of the Union, young Magnus would have been a good choice – this kid is the real deal and can grow into the job.

Cockerill, meanwhile, has called-in a favour from his old club Leicester, and borrowed Italian loose-head Michel Rizzo for six weeks as cover for a position in which his signed men have been falling like nine-pins.

I had hoped Ryan Grant might have persuaded Cockers to let him have the chance to resurrect his career while Edinburgh were short-handed, but, apparently not. A wee bird tells me, however, Grantie is liable to be seen in action in the BT Premiership on Saturday.

At the moment, I am heading for Glasgow Hawks v Marr on Saturday, except – I still do not know where this game will be played, following the opening of that sink hole which has turned the big pitch there unplayable. Hawks are trying very hard to find an alternative home while OA is out of commission, with various options apparently being discussed – Scotstoun - the club's preferred option, New Anniesland, Lochinch, even Burnbrae.

Don't take that Lochinch comment too-seriously, by the way. I understand, some of Hawks' West End chaps need vaccinations before they will venture south of the river. I am confident, however, the issue will be sorted out before Saturday.

The SRU is holding the BT Premiership media launch tomorrow. One wonders how many of the staff rugby writers – now a threatened species here in Scotland – will turn-up. Probably more than show-up to actually cover games on Saturday. Still, that's good for us hard-pressed freelances, that we get the Premiership gigs, so, mustn't grumble.

SCOTTISH Rugby got a great even of new season boost today, with Stuart Hogg back participating in Warriors' training. Just how far from full fitness Hawick's finest is, is another matter, but, just seeing him out on the grass is great news.

Craig Watson's picture of Hoggie at training today

Top sports snapper Craig Watson was on hand to grab shots of Hoggie getting stuck-in – great to see him back.

SCOTTISH club rugby has lost three massive influences in August. The loss of Gavin Calder, eldest of the four Calder brothers and a great man of Inverleith, I have already mentioned. Across on the south side of Glasgow, they are still mourning Billy Barnes, the plumber who gave so much to Cartha-Queen's Park and Hutcheson's-Aloysians, while Boroughmuir and indeed Edinburgh rugby, has been saddened by the loss, at the grand old age of 92 of Arthur Ross – one of the pioneers of coaching in Scotland.

Back in the 1980s, Scotland briefly “adopted” Swedish rugby; I remember interviewing Richie Dixon, who spent time there, on the partnership, which he hoped might be expanded.

Arthur went out to Sweden and coached Enkopping to the Swedish championship and this week, following his death, that club posted a lovely tribute to him.

The international brotherhood of rugby right enough.