Scottish Pro team thread

[123456789]

First topic message reminder :

There doesn't seem to be much going on but I thought it might be an idea to set up a thread devoted to transfers, coaching news and general new information to do with the Scottish pro clubs over the summer

[funnyExiledScot]

If I were in charge of the SRU, I'd be saying to Ayr

"give me a business plan and if it meets the requirements we will fund you to the tune that Glasgow and Edinburgh are, we will enter you into the Rabo (if this is possible) and you will start off as the Scottish Pro development side"

Surely one of the key requirements for a 3rd pro side would be not being based in Ayr?

I know we've done this old chestnut to death, but Aberdeen, Perth or Inverness would be the better choices in my view. Borders had their chance and made it clear that they have no interest in professional rugby, and anyone who is even vaguely interested in rugby within spitting distance of Glasgow (I include Ayr in this) will support Glasgow as their professional side.

I still maintain my position that we are a long way from having a business case for a 3rd pro region. We need to get Edinburgh and Glasgow on a far more solid footing.

[123456789]

I think Scotland needs three, preferably four, pro teams in order to regularly compete internationally. This was made abundantly clear when the likes of Kyle Traynor were called up to the squad last year. As far as I'm concerned Edinburgh should be found their own stadium, firstly to get their own identity and also because Murrayfield should be a daunting place for international debutants not a place you've already been to and won comfortably at.

I think it's a case of creating teams to build depth rather than not having more teams because we don't already have it

[123456789]

Also we're edging ever closer to the big 1000 posts for the second time this year

[GLove39]

Also we're edging ever closer to the big 1000 posts for the second time this year

 

[Dorothy_Mantooth]

Nearly as many posts as Edinburgh have ST holders!

[HawkTheSlayersRubbish]

dont be daft, that paltry number was passed ages ago!

[Dorothy_Mantooth]

dont be daft, that paltry number was passed ages ago!

As debuts go, yours certainly meant business. 

[RDW]

Yup, he's getting a ban straight away! 

[whocares]

Gotta say this has been the thread of the summer so far

[Dorothy_Mantooth]

Yup, he's getting a ban straight away! 

To be fair its been a hard day for us Warriors supporters, what with you lot at HQ getting a decent coach in. A shambolic Edinburgh long term for Scotland is no good. Another season or so would have been amusing.

[HawkTheSlayersRubbish]

Yup, he's getting a ban straight away! 

Apologies for being a bit brutal with my first post, but the truth hurts!

[RDW]

You'll do fine on this forum pal - plenty mental weegies to make you look tame!

[Notch]

Hey Hawk-

Babylon 5 is big pile of szhit!

[GLove39]

Check out the second try in this video http://www.rugbydump.com/2013/07/3320/fijis-two-sensational-tries-that-launched-victorious-pacific-nations-cup-campaign - great to see Matawalu keeping busy during the summer.

[RDW]

Will be a real shame when we hit the post limit on this thread - been some brilliant banter!

[George Carlin]

 965

[IanBru]

 965

The number of the beast's needlessly aggressive Weegie cousin.

[123456789]

Can we have the limit removed?

[RDW]

Not set by us, so no

[George Carlin]

Should we do two new pre-season threads, one for each team? Or should we keep it all together in one communal back scratching banter-fest omnishambles? I vote for the latter.

[RDW]

Got to keep it all together GC! A Scottish pro team start of season thread or something like that.

but only after we hit 1000!

[Biltong]

This post is just to help you get to a thousand.  

[RDW]

 

[George Carlin]

973. Surely we'll hit it today.
 
On a completely unrelated note, has anyone heard anything further about James O'Connor being linked with Saracens?
 
Also, Bilt - just whilst you're there - what is your opinion on whether Engelbrecht would follow his coach to Edinburgh? What usually happens to quality players who play for franchises that have had a disappointing season? Will another Saffer franchise move for them or do they tend to get snapped up by the NH powerhouses?

[RDW]

In other news been reading this morning that Solomons is going to announce an experienced defence coach and an up and coming Scottish club coach, similar to Glasgow.

Did Chalmers jump ship too early?? Who could this up and coming coach be?

[RDW]

Good work GC - we've both started a few discussions to ensure we hit 1000! 

[Biltong]

George, I don't know how long a contract Engelbrecht has with the Kings, most likely a short one as they weren't guaranteed of a place in the super XV for next year, and it now seems most likely that they won't.

Engelbrecht is still very young, he has not yet been called up to a training squad by Heyneke Meyer, so I would suggest if he is going to move it will be soon. If Meyer talks to him and gives him an idea that he is on contention for a BOk cap, then maybe the chances of him moving becomes less.

The Bulls have lost a big number of players this week who are all going overseas, so they will be shopping heavily as of tomorrow.

[George Carlin]

In other news been reading this morning that Solomons is going to announce an experienced defence coach and an up and coming Scottish club coach, similar to Glasgow.

Did Chalmers jump ship too early?? Who could this up and coming coach be?

Oh - I thought that Stevie would be their token Scottish coach. Another one? Graham, probably? I hope that the defence coach is a hard bitten Saffer barsteward. Someone like Jacques Nienaber would be amazing (although I can't see it being him).

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

973. Surely we'll hit it today.
 
On a completely unrelated note, has anyone heard anything further about James O'Connor being linked with Saracens?
 
Also, Bilt - just whilst you're there - what is your opinion on whether Engelbrecht would follow his coach to Edinburgh? What usually happens to quality players who play for franchises that have had a disappointing season? Will another Saffer franchise move for them or do they tend to get snapped up by the NH powerhouses?

If he's got international ambitions, GC, I can't see him wanting to leave SA - so I think realistically that points to his agent touting him to another South African Super XV franchise

[RDW]

Anyone know what type of coach Solomons is? I.e. forwards or backs coach?

I suspect what we need is a backs / attack coach, and Peter Wright or George Graham certainly ain’t that!

Also I’ve never seen Engelbrecht play, and only saw his name yesterday, but I already want Edinburgh to sign him more than anyone else!

[RDW]

Also SA don't have the residency rule, so technically he could still sign for us and play for them....!

Obviously though not playing in SA will be a hindrance to recognition by the head coach.

[maestegmafia]

973. Surely we'll hit it today.
 
On a completely unrelated note, has anyone heard anything further about James O'Connor being linked with Saracens?
 
Also, Bilt - just whilst you're there - what is your opinion on whether Engelbrecht would follow his coach to Edinburgh? What usually happens to quality players who play for franchises that have had a disappointing season? Will another Saffer franchise move for them or do they tend to get snapped up by the NH powerhouses?

If he's got international ambitions, GC, I can't see him wanting to leave SA - so I think realistically that points to his agent touting him to another South African Super XV franchise

If he is the young centre I am thinking of then he is very quick. He played for the Boks vs Scotland on their summer tour...!

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

In other news been reading this morning that Solomons is going to announce an experienced defence coach and an up and coming Scottish club coach, similar to Glasgow.

Did Chalmers jump ship too early?? Who could this up and coming coach be?

That's good to hear, RDW, I think Embra need to put together the right coaching panel, not just get Alan Solomons in, as good as he may turn out to be. Possibly with hindsight Chick Chalmers did then jump ship too early, but if one of the new appointees is defo a Scot, then could it be Currie's Ally Donaldson maybe or Ian Rankin formerly of Dundee HSFP - the former would represent upcoming talent for sure (and that would allow Ben Cairns to step up from assistant coach), while the latter has been around a fair bit (previous experience of the pro game as head coach of both Embra and Caley Reds), plus resigned his Dundee post at the end of the season, so is now free. On the defensive side, hmm...? Not sure?  

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

973. Surely we'll hit it today.
 
On a completely unrelated note, has anyone heard anything further about James O'Connor being linked with Saracens?
 
Also, Bilt - just whilst you're there - what is your opinion on whether Engelbrecht would follow his coach to Edinburgh? What usually happens to quality players who play for franchises that have had a disappointing season? Will another Saffer franchise move for them or do they tend to get snapped up by the NH powerhouses?

If he's got international ambitions, GC, I can't see him wanting to leave SA - so I think realistically that points to his agent touting him to another South African Super XV franchise

If he is the young centre I am thinking of then he is very quick. He played for the Boks vs Scotland on their summer tour...!

Nah, he's a backrower, maes - I'll try and think of the young centre's name that you are thinking of

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Ah-ha, he's also Engelbrecht, but a different one!  

[RDW]

Would the centre Engelbrecht like to come to Edinburgh?? We need one of them too!

[maestegmafia]

973. Surely we'll hit it today.
 
On a completely unrelated note, has anyone heard anything further about James O'Connor being linked with Saracens?
 
Also, Bilt - just whilst you're there - what is your opinion on whether Engelbrecht would follow his coach to Edinburgh? What usually happens to quality players who play for franchises that have had a disappointing season? Will another Saffer franchise move for them or do they tend to get snapped up by the NH powerhouses?

If he's got international ambitions, GC, I can't see him wanting to leave SA - so I think realistically that points to his agent touting him to another South African Super XV franchise

If he is the young centre I am thinking of then he is very quick. He played for the Boks vs Scotland on their summer tour...!

Nah, he's a backrower, maes - I'll try and think of the young centre's name that you are thinking of

I was thinking of young JJ Engelbrecht from the Bulls...?

Who is the other lad?

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Would the centre Engelbrecht like to come to Edinburgh?? We need one of them too!

Unlikely, RDW, he extended his Bulls contract out to 2016 just back in June

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

973. Surely we'll hit it today.
 
On a completely unrelated note, has anyone heard anything further about James O'Connor being linked with Saracens?
 
Also, Bilt - just whilst you're there - what is your opinion on whether Engelbrecht would follow his coach to Edinburgh? What usually happens to quality players who play for franchises that have had a disappointing season? Will another Saffer franchise move for them or do they tend to get snapped up by the NH powerhouses?

If he's got international ambitions, GC, I can't see him wanting to leave SA - so I think realistically that points to his agent touting him to another South African Super XV franchise

If he is the young centre I am thinking of then he is very quick. He played for the Boks vs Scotland on their summer tour...!

Nah, he's a backrower, maes - I'll try and think of the young centre's name that you are thinking of

I was thinking of young JJ Engelbrecht from the Bulls...?

Who is the other lad?

JJ: http://www.bluebulls.co.za/profile.aspx?pid=1131&team=Senior

T'other one (Jacques): http://www.skings.co.za/player-profiles/jacques-jacobus-engelbrecht/

[George Carlin]

Would the centre Engelbrecht like to come to Edinburgh?? We need one of them too!

Totally agree that all Engelbrechts are welcome.

[maestegmafia]

Ahhh

Not a bad looking lad either.

[RDW]

The back row Engelbrechts is a big lad, and at 28 is getting on a bit in terms of International honours!

[Biltong]

973. Surely we'll hit it today.
 
On a completely unrelated note, has anyone heard anything further about James O'Connor being linked with Saracens?
 
Also, Bilt - just whilst you're there - what is your opinion on whether Engelbrecht would follow his coach to Edinburgh? What usually happens to quality players who play for franchises that have had a disappointing season? Will another Saffer franchise move for them or do they tend to get snapped up by the NH powerhouses?

If he's got international ambitions, GC, I can't see him wanting to leave SA - so I think realistically that points to his agent touting him to another South African Super XV franchise

If he is the young centre I am thinking of then he is very quick. He played for the Boks vs Scotland on their summer tour...!

Wrong player Maes, The Engelbrecht we are talking about here is a backrower for the Kings.

Here is a video of the Kings, look at their backrowers and flyhalf. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax5702y1Ha4

[maestegmafia]

Cheers Bil

[Totalflanker]

Folks - any update on Cusack's recovery?

[George Carlin]

Folks - any update on Cusack's recovery?

 
Am also worried about this. Could RDW, Radge or anyone else on the Tweety thing send him a message and ask him? His address is Michael Cusack (@bigq1). I'm serious.

This is a great website incidentally: http://pro12tweets.com/glasgow/

[RDW]

This is a great website incidentally: http://pro12tweets.com/glasgow/

"Great" is pushing it a bit - clicked on Edinburgh and it was full of error messages on the website!

[George Carlin]

This is a great website incidentally: http://pro12tweets.com/glasgow/

"Great" is pushing it a bit - clicked on Edinburgh and it was full of error messages on the website!

Sounds about right to me.

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Folks - any update on Cusack's recovery?

 
Am also worried about this. Could RDW, Radge or anyone else on the Tweety thing send him a message and ask him? His address is Michael Cusack (@bigq1). I'm serious.

This is a great website incidentally: http://pro12tweets.com/glasgow/

Done

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

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