The Monday Bulletin (3rd March): Metcalfe reunited with 1999 Five Nations jersey and more Scots misery in Celtic Challenge
Yesterday at 11:01 AM
by COLIN RENTON
Metcalfe's jersey back in the family
Former Glasgow Warriors and Scotland full-back Glenn Metcalfe was recently reunited with a playing shirt he had signed by his 1999 Five Nations championship winning team-mates, which he originally donated to a charity auction some 20 years ago. The keepsake was initially bought by the late Dick Allen, whose son Mike and daughter-in-law Tanja inherited the garment then passed it forward to be auctioned again, this time to raise money to send a team from Te Awamutu Sports club to the 2025 Melrose Sevens, with the successful bidder being Metcalfe's brother, Ant. “So after 26 years when I got my teammates to sign a jersey for me at Murrayfield it has travelled quite a few miles, created some smiles and raises a few dollars for some great causes … Dick would be proud,” posted Metcalfe, who now works for the fire service back in his native New Zealand, on social media.
6N: Scotland v Wales: three players added to home training squad
URC: Glasgow v Ospreys: Warriors shoot themselves in the foot
Arnold Clark Men's Premiership: Kelso put Hawick to the sword
Sir Gordon Tietjens to be honoured at The Greenyards
Te Awamutu Sports club will not be the only New Zealand connection to this year’s Melrose Sevens, with it announced last week that Sir Gordon Tietjens, the legendary former coach of New Zealand Sevens, will be inducted into the Jackson Distillers Melrose Sevens Hall of Fame at a gala dinner at The Greenyards on the eve of this year’s tournament (Thursday 22nd May). To find out more, click HERE.
More misery for Scotland’s Celtic Challenge teams
It was another disappointing weekend for Scotland’s representatives in the Celtic Challenge, with Edinburgh thumped 18-60 at home to Clovers and Glasgow Warriors losing 17-33 at home to Brython Thunder, with both games being played on Saturday afternoon. These lates losses leave the two sides third and sixth, respectively, in the six-team Celtic Challenge table, with one round of matches left to play. Edinburgh are away to the Wolfhound next Saturday [12.15pm kick-off] and Glasgow visit Brython Thunder on Sunday [12pm kick-off].
Seib heading for Connacht
Rod Seib, who played for Aberdeen Grammar and Glasgow Warriors during a decade in Scotland, is set to return to the northern hemisphere to join the coaching team at Connacht. The Australian arrived at Grammar in 2001. He captained the side and was named Premiership player-of-the-year in 2004 before launching his coaching career at the club. He is currently an assistant coach at the Brumbies, and took charge of the Australia ‘A’ squad that toured England last autumn.
Positive data from French survey
A survey of French rugby trends by the company Kantar Media has revealed some positive statistics. The headlines show that rugby is the country's second most popular sport, 80 percent of respondents have a positive image of the game, 40 percent are interested in the women's international side, and interest in sevens has risen 13 percent since Les Bleus won Olympic gold in Paris last year.
Irish clubs are Lisbon-bound
Ireland's club international side will travel to meet Portugal ‘A’ in March. The match, which will take place in Lisbon, offers a high level of rugby to those currently playing in the Energia All-Ireland League, which is below the professional level and similar to the Arnold Clark Premiership. The teams met for the first time last year, when the Irish clubs recorded a 20-17 win.
Kitshoff's off
Steven Kitshoff, a double World Cup winner with South Africa, is retiring from the game because of a serious neck injury. The 33-year-old prop earned 83 Springbok caps and was a world champion in 2019 and 2023. Kitshoff played for Ulster last season before returning to South Africa with Stormers. He suffered the injury last September and has since been told that continuing to play would increase the risk of another injury.
Munster name Rowntree replacement
New Zealander Clayton McMillan will fill the vacant position as Munster's head coach when he arrives at the Irish club this summer on a three-year deal. McMillan will move from the Chiefs to take over from Ian Costello, who has held the post on an interim basis since Graham Rowntree's departure last October. Costello will remain at Munster as general manager.
Nonu not yet done
It seems that age is no barrier for All Black centurion Ma’a Nonu, who has joined Top 14 side Toulon until the end of the season. The centre, who will be 43 in May, won 103 caps for New Zealand between 2003 and 2015, and was a World Cup winner twice. He previously had two spells with Toulon and had been playing in the US for San Diego Legion but has now returned to the French club as medical cover.
International trio call it a day
Three long-serving Ireland players have announced their retirement. Peter O’Mahony, Cian Healy and Conor Murray made a joint announcement stating that they will be hanging up their boots with more than 100 international appearances each to their credit. O'Mahony, who is 35 and Healy, the record Irish cap holder, will quit the game completely at the end of the season, while Murray intends to play overseas.
Big-hearted 'Burgh make important donation
Players and supporters of Musselburgh proved that the spirit of rugby is alive and well with a gesture of kindness towards struggling Forrester. A Musselburgh select side played against the East League Division One team in a Friday night match under the Stoneyhill lights and donated the proceeds to their opponents. Like many clubs, Forrester has been stretched financially over recent months and a donation from Musselburgh of £1,000 is a welcome boost to the coffers.
6N: Scotland v Wales: three players added to home training squad
The post The Monday Bulletin (3rd March): Metcalfe reunited with 1999 Five Nations jersey and more Scots misery in Celtic Challenge appeared first on Scottish Rugby News from The Offside Line.
