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

[BaldiePete]

Friday.

Hutchison starts for Northampton. I know he’s not likely to start in the Italy game but please don’t get injured. Savala starts at 13 Hunter-hill on the bench.

[BaldiePete]

Saturday
Gloucester v Leicester
Harris starts for Gloucester. Henderson starts for Leicester with Hurd on the bench.

Exeter v Saracens
Almost Scottish Burke is on the bench for Saracens.

Scarlets v Edinburgh
Hepburn and Craig both start for Scarlets.

Toulouse v Montpellier
No team news yet

Bordeaux v Lyon
No team news yet. I hope Gray gets a game.

Sunday
Bristol v Newcastle
Murray McCallum and Kiran McDonald both start. Leatherbarrow on the bench.

Sale v Bath
Reed and Warr start for Sale. Bayliss and Russell start for Bath. Time to start making sacrifices to the Scottish knee fairy to save Finn.

Toulon v La Rochelle
No team news yet but Toulon did tweet earlier that White was back with them this weekend.

[BaldiePete]

Toulouse v Montpellier
Kinghorn on the bench. Hogg at 10 for Montpellier

Bordeaux v Lyon
Gray not selected for Bordeaux.

[Croft_No.5]

A new name to add to the list....

Alexander Masibaka has impressed this season in Pro D2 with French side Soyaux-Angoulême. The 23-year-old is currently on loan from Montpellier having previously played for the Western Force. Born and raised in Western Australia, he plays across the back-row and qualifies for Scotland through his Paisley born mother.

[BaldiePete]

Cameron Henderson has signed a new deal with Leicester.

[Mikey Brown]

I’ve got that feeling with Henderson he might just surprise people at international level if he’s given a bit of a chance and can stay fit.

I don’t know what Jonny Gray’s fitness or form is like, but I hope Henderson can push for the 23.

[BaldiePete]

I’d like to see him get a chance. Selecting Gray would be a gamble but my fear is that Townsend will take that gamble. Maybe not starting but on the bench.

[Mikey Brown]

I wouldn’t be against 4. Gilchrist 5. Henderson 19. Gray to be honest. I feel like this team desperately needs some fresh impetus, and not just the random props we appear to be pulling off the street and giving a game.

[BaldiePete]

Cam Redpath is playing for Bath in the Premiership Rugby Cup this afternoon. Good to see him back.
Jonny Gray is on the bench for Bordeaux, which after a long period out is probably more sensible than chucking him to the starting 15 in international matches.
Ben White not in Toulon squad.
Toulouse play on Sunday so no news on Kinghorn yet.

Kinghorn not in the 23.

[BaldiePete]

How unusual, a positive article about Old Glory DC. Simon Cross is their head coach, Rob Harley is captain and they’ve signed Damian Hoyland.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/ ... ry-dc-espn

[Cameo]

How unusual, a positive article about Old Glory DC. Simon Cross is their head coach, Rob Harley is captain and they’ve signed Damian Hoyland.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/ ... ry-dc-espn

Does Scottish Rugby still own a chunk of Old Glory? I never really understood that deal (but then again I don't get the perennial 'we should buy London Scottish' chat).

[BaldiePete]

According to the 2023/24 accounts the SRU owns 8.98% of Washington DC Professional Rugby LLC, down from 11.59% the previous year. The investment appears to have been written off.



Pages 82 and 83.

https://scottishrugby.org/wp-content/up ... 023-24.pdf

[Puja]

According to the 2023/24 accounts the SRU owns 8.98% of Washington DC Professional Rugby LLC, down from 11.59% the previous year. The investment appears to have been written off.



Pages 82 and 83.

https://scottishrugby.org/wp-content/up ... 023-24.pdf

I mean, that seems like sensible accounting to me. MLR doesn't make any money and likely won't for at least another 5 years, maybe not ever. It wasn't ever really an investment, but a long-shot gamble that will get Scotland a toe in the door if the USA does take off and become the fountain of money for rugby that people have been planning for it to be for the last 20-odd years.

Puja

[septic 9]

According to the 2023/24 accounts the SRU owns 8.98% of Washington DC Professional Rugby LLC, down from 11.59% the previous year. The investment appears to have been written off.



Pages 82 and 83.

https://scottishrugby.org/wp-content/up ... 023-24.pdf

I mean, that seems like sensible accounting to me. MLR doesn't make any money and likely won't for at least another 5 years, maybe not ever. It wasn't ever really an investment, but a long-shot gamble that will get Scotland a toe in the door if the USA does take off and become the fountain of money for rugby that people have been planning for it to be for the last 20-odd years.

Puja

agree its common sense accounting. An accountant's way to deal with an investment unlikely to provide short term returns. But in keyboard warrior speak - and I include nearly all (if not all) rugby journos - written off is automatically wasted. It may turn out that way but thise same keyboard warriors will say sfa if they are proved very wrong

[Cameo]

Agree re accounts but it still seems weird to me. Unless there is a shareholder's agreement giving Scottish rugby a fair bit of control (which seems unlikely given a 9% shareholding), what's the benefit of this rather than having put the money in Bitcoin or some other high risk investment with more chance of highh returns? I am just not sure Scottish rugby has the money to invest in high risk, low returns products.

Again, though, I might be missing something.

[BaldiePete]

I’m sure you’ll all manage just fine without my updates in this thread but I’ve just deleted my Twitter account which was where I got all the information from and I can’t be arsed looking for it elsewhere.

[Mikey Brown]

I did really appreciate those, just so you know, but good on you for deleting your Twitter.

It may take a full black and red rebrand before all the journalists leave but surely they’ll migrate somewhere else eventually.

[BaldiePete]

Thanks. I know this isn’t the place for politics but Musk’s latest garbage about Ukraine was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

[BaldiePete]

Thanks. I know this isn’t the place for politics but Musk’s latest garbage about Ukraine was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

[Cameo]

Yeah, enjoyed the updates but plenty of good reasons to get off X! The English MB has some updates that often mention Scottish players, will copy across if I notice anything particularly interesting.

[septic 9]

Thanks. I know this isn’t the place for politics but Musk’s latest garbage about Ukraine was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Mate, that was worth posting twice.

I often look to see if so and so or AN other are playing but your updates made me a bit lazy. But you have made the right decision, some things are more important