Scots Abroad VIII (or let's spot the new messiah)

[Chunks Baws]

Two of our U20's sign deals with Gloucester apparently. Alex Craig is a lock whilst Charlie Chapman is another scrum half.

And U20's flanker Guy Graham has signed for Newcastle Falcons from Hawick. Son of George Graham and the younger brother of England legend Gary.

[Chunks Baws]

http://www.planetrugby.com/news/la-roch ... haia-west/

Not 100% sure if he's SQ but I've seen some folk claim he is. Wonder if we'll be keeping an eye on him.

[sharvey44]

http://www.planetrugby.com/news/la-roch ... haia-west/

Not 100% sure if he's SQ but I've seen some folk claim he is. Wonder if we'll be keeping an eye on him.

Wiki says he's been capped by the Maori ABs. Does that not make him tied to NZ?

[Chunks Baws]

http://www.planetrugby.com/news/la-roch ... haia-west/

Not 100% sure if he's SQ but I've seen some folk claim he is. Wonder if we'll be keeping an eye on him.

Wiki says he's been capped by the Maori ABs. Does that not make him tied to NZ?

Maitland represented the Maori ABs as well, but the rules may have changed since then.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

http://www.planetrugby.com/news/la-roch ... haia-west/

Not 100% sure if he's SQ but I've seen some folk claim he is. Wonder if we'll be keeping an eye on him.

That is a real blow to Glasgow.

Don't believe the Maoris are NZ's designated second team. It's the JABs.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Weir signs for Wuss. 1 year deal.

Hope he goes well.

[Mikey Brown]

Matt Scott again doesn't make the Gloucester 23 and isn'lt listed as unavailable. Can't they just let him go early?

[ARM]

Bryan Redpath appointed U20 coach.

SRU playing the long game on Cameron?

[General Zod]

Finlay Christie on debut today for hurricanes v Sunwolves. Slow start (including a pretty wild pass to no-one), but then a try, an arguably try-saving tap-tackle and a few other good bits of play before half time.

He’d do well in an Edinburgh shirt...

[Guest]

Hoggy with a very questionable try v Tigers.

Good win for Newcastle that. Decimated by injuries.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Hoggy with a very questionable try v Tigers.

Good win for Newcastle that. Decimated by injuries.

He's too old now but there are a few head coaches heads that should roll for their freezing out of Hogg over the last few years. It is beyond insane that his last cap was 9 years ago when he must have been 25 I think.

Robinson is the real culprit, Johnson also. By the time Vern came in he was probably starting to get on a bit.

The more I think about it the more it annoys me. Especially as he never had the chance to be part of one of the more successful Scotland set-ups.

[Mikey Brown]

Did he not have some sort of falling out with somebody? I feel like I remember asking the same question a few years back and hearing that. I remember thinking in 06 he’d be captain and pushing 100 caps by now.

[Edinburgh in Exile]

Hoggy with a very questionable try v Tigers.

Good win for Newcastle that. Decimated by injuries.

He's too old now but there are a few head coaches heads that should roll for their freezing out of Hogg over the last few years. It is beyond insane that his last cap was 9 years ago when he must have been 25 I think.

Robinson is the real culprit, Johnson also. By the time Vern came in he was probably starting to get on a bit.

The more I think about it the more it annoys me. Especially as he never had the chance to be part of one of the more successful Scotland set-ups.

That seems like a staggering amount of assumptions you are making there.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Hoggy with a very questionable try v Tigers.

Good win for Newcastle that. Decimated by injuries.

He's too old now but there are a few head coaches heads that should roll for their freezing out of Hogg over the last few years. It is beyond insane that his last cap was 9 years ago when he must have been 25 I think.

Robinson is the real culprit, Johnson also. By the time Vern came in he was probably starting to get on a bit.

The more I think about it the more it annoys me. Especially as he never had the chance to be part of one of the more successful Scotland set-ups.

That seems like a staggering amount of assumptions you are making there.

Such as?

Hogg was frozen out. Even excellent form coinciding with injuries did not earn him a look-in.
His last cap was about 9 years ago - he must have been around 25.
The more recent set-ups under Cotter and Townsend are the two most successful set-ups since Hogg won his first cap.

Those are as close to factual as you can get.

Was blaming Robbo & Johnson, the two head coaches that opted to ignore him, a step too far for you?

[Edinburgh in Exile]

He's too old now but there are a few head coaches heads that should roll for their freezing out of Hogg over the last few years. It is beyond insane that his last cap was 9 years ago when he must have been 25 I think.

Robinson is the real culprit, Johnson also. By the time Vern came in he was probably starting to get on a bit.

The more I think about it the more it annoys me. Especially as he never had the chance to be part of one of the more successful Scotland set-ups.

That seems like a staggering amount of assumptions you are making there.

Such as?

Hogg was frozen out. Even excellent form coinciding with injuries did not earn him a look-in.
His last cap was about 9 years ago - he must have been around 25.
The more recent set-ups under Cotter and Townsend are the two most successful set-ups since Hogg won his first cap.

Those are as close to factual as you can get.

Was blaming Robbo & Johnson, the two head coaches that opted to ignore him, a step too far for you?

Each to their own cat man, I have no idea at all why he fell out of favour, as such I’m not going to sling blame around, “close” to factual, or otherwise.

[OptimisticJock]

Did he not have some sort of falling out with somebody? I feel like I remember asking the same question a few years back and hearing that. I remember thinking in 06 he’d be captain and pushing 100 caps by now.

That's how I remember it but then I can't remember much of my shift last night.....

[no sleep]

It surprised me at the time, as he was one of my favourite players. I did read fairly recently that he tried to set up a players' association, and that didn't go down too well with the SRU.

Yeah, probably need a tin foil hat wi that....

[hugh_woatmeigh]

And he's retired... Mixed emotions really. A truly talented player who served Scottish rugby & Newcastle well... but a lot of wasted talent through no fault of his own that we missed out on on the international stage.

Given Glasgow's issues at 8 I'm surprised he wasn't given a 1 season deal there to help blood the younger back rowers & bow out in Scotland.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/43977827

[Chunks Baws]

Hoggy with a very questionable try v Tigers.

Good win for Newcastle that. Decimated by injuries.

He's too old now but there are a few head coaches heads that should roll for their freezing out of Hogg over the last few years. It is beyond insane that his last cap was 9 years ago when he must have been 25 I think.

Robinson is the real culprit, Johnson also. By the time Vern came in he was probably starting to get on a bit.

The more I think about it the more it annoys me. Especially as he never had the chance to be part of one of the more successful Scotland set-ups.

The Newcastle fans are all sad to see him go. I thought at the time he might have been an outside bet to make the 2015 WC squad. I'm sure he was near the top of the turnover and tackle charts.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Hoggy with a very questionable try v Tigers.

Good win for Newcastle that. Decimated by injuries.

He's too old now but there are a few head coaches heads that should roll for their freezing out of Hogg over the last few years. It is beyond insane that his last cap was 9 years ago when he must have been 25 I think.

Robinson is the real culprit, Johnson also. By the time Vern came in he was probably starting to get on a bit.

The more I think about it the more it annoys me. Especially as he never had the chance to be part of one of the more successful Scotland set-ups.

The Newcastle fans are all sad to see him go. I thought at the time he might have been an outside bet to make the 2015 WC squad. I'm sure he was near the top of the turnover and tackle charts.

Al Strokosch knocking about in Pro D2 much more essential.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Timbo Visser retires from international rugby.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/43990748

Best of luck from him and totally understand the reasons. Tough for Scotland though. We are only ever an injury or two away from a crisis in the wings.

[Cameo]

I was surprised by that. Wouldnt have been that surprised to see him starting on the wing at some point

[Mikey Brown]

Strange one. Seems a bit young but with not being involved the past two tournaments I can get why he wants some stability. He’s one the least consistent players I’ve ever seen, maybe he can at least get his club form back to a decent level now.

You’re right on the wings. Maitland finally seems to be showing a bit more, but behind him and Seymour it’s hard to assess.

Maitland and Seymour must be pushing 30 now

I really like Lee Jones but still doubt he can be a star at the top level. McGuigan is another Visser. Hughes and Hoyland seem to have dropped out of the picture completely? Graham is very young and not getting much game time?

Beyond that is it a case of sticking one of the centres (Harris/Taylor/Jones) or Kinghorn out there?

[Big D]

He has signed a new deal with Quins recently. I suspect not unrelated to this announcement. Which as a fringe player closer to the end than beginning is understandable.

[OptimisticJock]

Graham is very young and not getting much game time?

With the 7s a lot this year. Been fantastic for them. Pace to spare.