The Monday Bulletin (10th February): World Cup qualifiers confirmed and Scottish Cup is back on
Yesterday at 10:58 AM
World Cup qualifiers confirmed
Georgia, Romania, Spain and Portugal secured their tickets to the World Cup when they recorded a second successive win in the qualifying pools of the Rugby Europe Championship. A Portuguese victory over Germany in the final match of the weekend confirmed the place of Romania, who beat Belgium in a match refereed by Hollie Davidson, assisted by fellow Scots, David Sutherland and Finlay Brown. Belgium, together with the remaining sides in the eight team competition, Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany, will be looking to finish fifth in order to claim a place in the play-offs for World Cup qualification.
Scottish Cup goes ahead … sort of
The Men’s Scottish Cup will go ahead this season after all, with seven clubs from the Premiership and National One having opted into the knock-out competition. With the Premiership being expanded from 10 to 12 teams this season as part of the fall-out from the disbandment of Super6, it looked for a long time like the Cup would have to be sacrificed in order to accommodate the four extra rounds of matches needing played in the top flight. However, after protracted discussions and negotiations, a slimmed down version will go ahead, with three quarter-finals being played on Saturday 22nd March (Dundee Rugby v Ayr, Glasgow Accies v Highland and Heriot’s v Gala) while GHA have been handed a bye to the semi-final.
Redpath returns
Scotland centre Cam Redpath returned from injury to help Bath record a 50-7 win over Ampthill in the Premiership Cup. The 25-year-old emerged unscathed after a 50 minute contribution, confirming that he will be ready should Gregor Townsend his services for the remaining matches in the Guinness Six Nations.
Schmidt quitting Wallabies job
A vacancy will arise for the post of Wallabies coach when Joe Schmidt quits in October. The 59-year-old New Zealander took over from Eddie Jones after a poor 2023 World Cup showing by Australia, and has been credited with an upturn in performances. He will be at the helm for the British & Irish Lions tour and the Rugby Championship before moving on.
New tenants at Murrayfield
Scottish Brain Sciences, a clinical research company, is moving its operations to Scottish Gas Murrayfield. The company, which is working to find tests and treatments for Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases, has signed a lease that will mean moving into its new home in the spring. In April 2022, it launched a brain health clinic for former international rugby players.
IRFU captures them young
All babies born in Ireland next Saturday will receive a replica kit from the IRFU. The gesture by the governing body aims to mark the 150th anniversary of Ireland's first international match. Parents must submit a copy of the birth certificate to claim the gift.
Boozy Biarritz bash ends in biting
Biarritz Olympique announced that it was investigating reports that two of its players fought each other during a drunken night out. Fijian international Masivesi Dakuwaqa – a sevens gold medallist at the Rio Olympics in 2016 – is alleged to have bitten his colleague Pierre Pages on the cheek. Pages needed 20 stitches as a result of the injury which, according to eye witnesses, occurred after he intervened in a dispute involving Dakuwaqa, who was arrested and will appear in court in May. He has been suspended by the club.
Dell calls it a day
Allan Dell has confirmed his retirement from rugby. The South Africa-born 32-year-old prop, who earned 34 Scotland caps and was called up to the British & Irish Lions squad in 2017, played for Edinburgh, London Irish and Glasgow Warriors. He left Warriors in December to pursue new career opportunities. On Friday, Dell announced on social media that his playing career was over. He will not be lost to the game and will be taking on a development role at Stirling County where he will work with ambitious players and coaches.
France hoping to avoid nul points
Scotland's Guinness Six Nations clash with France on 15th March will include some unusual entertainment. When the teams return to the changing rooms for their half-time break, the French singer, Louane, will reveal the song that she will be performing at this year's Eurovision Song Contest in May.
Catalans extend Scottish connection
Jamie Ritchie's move to Perpignan means the international back-row is following in the footsteps of several other Scots who have played at the Catalan outfit in recent years. The contributions of Chris Cusiter and Nathan Hines in helping the club win the Top 14 title in 2009, and more recently Al Strokosch, who enjoyed local hero status during a six-year spell that included being named as captain, earned them a place in a picture montage that has adorned the walls of the Stade Aime Giral:
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