Charity Begins At Home As A New Season Kicks-Off

I STILL long for the old days, when it was verboten to play a serious game of rugby before 1 September. Back then, there really was a big kick-off, and, boy were we ready to go.

These days, we sort of sidle, self-consciously onto the back pages, with “training games” warm-up games and the like. However, tomorrow, a week earlier than we might, we actually have some meaningful matches in Scotland.

One or two of the lesser trophy competitions kick-off, while, at the top level of the club game, it's a case of: “fancy meeting you again”, as Ayr and Melrose lock horns at Millbrae, with the SRU Charity Shield and the Bill McLaren Shield both up for grabs.

This will, for both clubs, be the third straight fixture in which they have gone head-to-head, following the BT Premiership Play-Off Final and the Scottish Cup Final at the end of last season. And, with the score standing at 1-1, this is a decider.

It promises to be another close game, as meetings between our two top club sides always are. Melrose are perhaps closer to what they would consider their best XV, but, this early in the season – who can say. There will be new faces on display, with the Ayr fans looking forward to seeing how newcomer Scott Lyle and old-stager Frazier Climo gel in midfield.

Scott Lyle - makes his competitive debut for Ayr

 

And, of course, there will some discussion about the proposed “Super Six”.

The proceeds are going to Doddie Weir's MND charity – a very-worthy cause and we understand, members of HM Press are even prepared to pay for admission to this one, which doesn't happen too often.

MEANWHILE, in the big boys' game of PRO14 warm-ups, Edinburgh take on Newcastle Falcons at the Greenyards tonight, while Glasgow Warriors are in darkest valley Wales, facing the Dragons in Ebbw Vale this afternoon.

One of the interesting side issues to the Edinburgh selection is Ryan Grant being named on the bench. In case you have forgotten, Grantie is a British Lion, he is only 31 and, as a prop – he ought to be in his prime.

Might "Cockers" be able to ressurect Ryan GRant's career?

I have always felt, the change to the scrum engagement laws hurt Ryan. Under the old engagement protocols, he was one of the absolute best there was, but, somehow he struggled to adapt when the call was changed a couple of seasons ago. Then, injuries and loss of form intervened. He maybe got too-cosy at Glasgow and needed a change of scenery, but, Worcester didn't work.

Now, he is looking for a fresh start and is back at Edinburgh, after seven years away. There, he will find, in Richard Cockerill, a kindred spirit from the Front Row Union – hopefully, Cockers can rekindle his flame. Certainly, given the way Edinburgh props seem to fall like nine-pins, a fit and focused Grant would be a terrific asset – not least because he can play on both sides of the front row; while having him back and firing on all cylinders would be good for Scotland too.

Interesting too, to see Cockers has retrieved Dougie Fife from the Sevens Squad bin, and he starts on the wing at Melrose. He's the sort of big, rangy winger Cockerill likes. Watch this space.

Dave Rennie is again giving his young guns game time, although Leila Masaga, one of the new arrivals from south of the Equator will be eased into action at the Vale.

WELL DONE Hollie Davidson, who will be on one of the lines for the Women's Rugby World Cup Final, between the New Zealand Black Ferns and some team which plays in all-white with a red rose.

Well done Hollie Davidson

Hollie's appointment, coming as it does on the back of Mike Adamson doing so-well in the Olympic Sevens in Rio last year, shows that Scottish refereeing is emerging from the doldrums.

Hollie and Mikey are just two of several very-good young referees coming through from Scotland, watch young Sam Grove-White too, and, if the PRO14 can ever sort-out the Irish refereeing “Murphyia” our emerging whistlers might have a bright future.

I AM pleased to see an international company like Mitsubishi getting involved as sponsors of the SRU's Youth and Schools Conferences, under a new deal announced this week.

These conferences, in spite of media indifference, have been a success and hopefully will continue to be thus.

Can I bang the drum here for my ain wee Cumnock club, who will be competing in the 11-club Galant Conference in the new season. Cumnock's 1^st XV plays in West Division Two of the BT leagues set-up, but, the club's young Galants will be taking on: Glasgow Hawks (BT Premiership), Cartha-Queen's Park and GHA (National League 1), Dumfries Saints and Whitecraigs (National League 2), Dalziel (National League 3), Dunfermline (Caledonian League 1), Allan Glen's, East Kilbride and Greenock Wanderers (West Division 1) and Livingston (East Division 1).

This Cumnock Kid has gone far in rugby

All ten clubs operate at a higher level than Cumnock, while some carry among the more-distinguished names in Scottish rugby – yet, the Cumnock boys are in there on merit and will not – I fancy - finish bottom of the conference.

Cumnock face a tough season on all fronts. Building work is due to start soon on the new “super school” which will replace the Cumnock and Auchinleck Academies, and which may in time do on a wider canvas what Cumnock Rugby Club has been doing for nigh-on 60-years, giving the youth of Auchinleck and Cumnock common cause for which to fight, rather than fighting each other.

This building work means, Cumnock will lose the use of their Broomfield pitches and, for the season and maybe longer, they will decamp to Netherthird, on the outskirts of the town, to play their games – before returning to new, fit-for-purpose pitches on the site of the present Cumnock Academy. It will be worth the disruption.