Running A Gird - A Lost Art Around EH12

THIS BLOG has never shied away from telling it like it is – more often than not, when I look at how the Scottish Rugby Union operates – my feeling is: “They couldnae run a gird”.

During the 1980s I was the “house stringer” in Ayrshire Senior Football. One Saturday I was in the press box at Rugby Park, seven days later, I was at Somerset Park. OK clannishness is a fact of life in Scotland; but the Scottish Football Association, or more-correctly The Scottish Football League had the sense to acknowledge there was in the country, a significant body of football fans, who while they might identify for example as Ayr United or Kilmarnock fans, but who, perhaps unwilling or unable to travel outwith God's County on a Saturday, would be willing to go to “the other ground” to watch a game.

I can vouch for this from personal experience. When, as a teenager, I got into watching Senior Football, our primary venue was Rugby Park, but, if Kilmarnock were playing in Edinburgh, or Dundee or Aberdeen, our travelling group could be found at Somerset Park, or at Palmerston – the driver had a life-long affection for Queen of the South.

We even, one memorable night, took ourselves up to Ibrox for that legendary night when Motherwell's “Ancell Babes” gave Rangers a five-goal doing in a Scottish Cup replay.

The SRU is clearly not as bright. I present as proof of this failing, the newly-released fixtures for Season 2024-25. This season, Ayrshire's top two sides: Ayr and Marr are both in the Premiership. Common sense should indicate, that when one of the clubs is away then the other should be at home – the reality is, this doesn't happen all that often.

Over the 22 rounds of Premiership fixtures, there are only five (excluding the teo head-to-heads) in which one club is at home while the other is away.

It's a similar story in Edinburgh, where there are few rounds in which the four capital clubs are split, two at home, two away. OK, I accept putting together a fixture list is a difficult task, but, I look at muddles like this, and I wonder – do they ever think things through properly.

Now, received wisdom in Scottish Rugby is that we are like a throwback to the warring clans of yore. All Teries must despise every Pailmerk, Soutars don't get on with the men of Jethart (unless named Rutherford and Laidlaw), “Eccies” chaps don't get on with their neighbours across the Anniesland hedge; while in counties such as Ayrshire and Fife, inter-community warfare is in the blood.

Truth to tell, real Rugby Union fans, of which we have many up here, will quite happily put aside traditional rivalries if the particular match on offer is good enough. When covering games at Fullarton, I regularly encountered Millbrae regulars, up to watch Premiership rugby, while the Bulls or Ayr were elsewhere.

Also, there has been regular movement between the two clubs, in fact, I could almost pick a XV of players who had worn both clubs' strips over their careers. So, for my money it makes sense to fettle the fixtures so one club is at home and the other away most weeks.

Dom Ward of Grangemouth has kick-started a debate on the shape of our season, via a piece he wrote for The Offside Line. Heriot's Neil Meikle, Bulls' Billy McHarg and Boroughmuir's Graham Sheil have also waded-in. This is a subject I have tackled before, and I will return to again next week – we really do need to get things sorted out as a matter of urgency.

MEANWHILE the last piece of domestic silverware of Season 2023-24 will be handed over tonight, with the final of the FOSROC Super Series Sprint, between Ayrshire Bulls and Stirling Wolves.

With home advantage, Bulls will start as favourites, but Eddie Pollock's boys have a good record in head-to-heads and have upset the Bulls before. It ought to be a cracker.

Mind you, the fact the final three games are being played in reverse order – surely common sense dictates you play the biggest game last. However, since The Junta has managed to mismanage Super Rugby from its inception, why shouldn't it end with a dull plop than the thunderous chorus you might expect.

I still believe, even as early as the end of next season, we will be saying: “Shutting down Super rugby was another own goal from Murrayfield.”

Both coaches have selected strong squads for tonight's game. The battle at the breakdown will be fierce, but, if either or both sides can get quick ruck ball, we should see some exciting, running rugby and perhaps some long-range tries.

The teams (as ever here in 1-23 order) are: Bulls: Jamie Drummond, James Malcolm, Calvin Henderson, Ed Bloodworth, Rory Jackson, Grant Stewart, Lewis McNamara, Blair Macpherson (Captain), Reiss Cullen, Richie Simpson; Mason Cullen, Bobby Beattie, Jamie Shedden, Thomas Glendinning, Luca Bardelli. Replacements: Alex McGuire, Rhodri Tanner, Craig Miller, Oscar Baird, Ryan Sweeney, Fergus Johnston, Christopher Elliot, Tim Brown.

Stirling Wolves: Liam Quarm, Joe Roberts, Marius Tamosaitis, James Pow, Jari Oguntibeju, Ruaridh Knott, Shaun Macdonald, Ed Hasdell; Kyle McGhie, Craig Jackson; Ross McKnight, Marcus Holden (Captain), Ryan Southern, Mikey Heron; Glenn Bryce. Replacements: Bryce Robertson, Ali Rogers, JP Phelan, Archie Clarke, Macenzzie Duncan; Eric Davey, Euan Cunningham, Calum Ferrie.

Referee: David Sutherland.

The match kicks-off at 7.35pm and is live on BBC ALBA.

TOMORROW AFTERNOON'S TV viewing is already sorted out, I will be right behind Finn Russell as he attempts to steer Bath to their first Gallagher Premiership win in over a decade, against Northampton Saints, at Twickenham.

However, Saturday night TV will be the Premier Sports coverage of the BKT United Rugby Championship quarter final between Glasgow Warriors and the DHL Stormers at Scotstoun.

I can see this as a huge challenge for Warriors. The Cape Town outfit, are like every other South African team, they really come alive in the games that really matter; for all their excellent home record this one – fourth v fifth in the regular season pec king order, will be anything but a home banker.

Franco Smyth has picked what looks, on-paper to be his strongest side. Skipper Kyle Steyn is back on the left wing; Josh McKay is back at full back, with the first-choice half-backs: George Horne and Tom Jordan are starting, while Scott Cummings is reunited with Richie Gray in the boiler-house.

On the bench fit-again George Turner is set to join the 100 appearances club. The Stormeres sustained a blow this week when outstanding breakaway Evan Roos suffered a concussion in training, but, even without him, they have the quality to test Warriors.

Tomorrow night's teams (as ever in 1-23 formation) are:

Glasgow Warriors: Jamie Bhatti, Johnny Matthews, Zander Fagerson, Scott Cumings, Richie Gray, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey; George Horne, Tom Jordan; Kyle Steyn (Captain), Sione Tuipulotu, Huw Jones, Sebastian Cancelliere; Josh McKay. Replacements: George Turner, Nathan McBeth, Olie Kebble, Max Williamson, Euan Ferrie, Henco Venter; Jamie Dobie, Ross Thompson.

DHL Stormers: Brok Harris, Joseph Dweba, Frans Malherbe, Salmaan Moerat (Captain) Ruben van Heerden, Willie Engelbrecht, Ben-Jason Dixon, Hacjivah Dayimani; Herschel Jantjies, Manie Libbok; Ben Loader, Sacha Feinberg-Magomezulu, Dan du Plessis, Suleiman Hartzenberg; Warrick Gelant. Replacements: Andre-Hugo Venter, Sti Sithole, Neethling Fouche, Adre Smith, Marcel Theunissen, Connor Evans, Paul de Wet, Jean-Luc du Plessis.

Match Officials:

Referee: Chris Busby

AR 1: Frank Murphy - AR 2: Peter Martin

TMO: Mark Patton (all IRFU)

Live on: Premier Sports kick-off 7.35pm.