Friday 17 May: Boroughmuir Bears v Heriot’s Rugby
KO 7:35pm

How to Watch
This Friday’s game will be broadcast live on ScottishRugby.org HERE with coverage starting from 7.30pm.

Be There
Tickets are available from Boroughmuir Bears HERE.

Match Officials 
Ref Ian Kenny
AR1 Sam O’Neil
AR2 Digby Thomas

Coaches Comments
Ben Cairns (Heriot’s Rugby): We welcome a few players back from injury and look to include them early with games running out. Only one change in the back line sees Sam Pecqueur rotate back in for Lewis Wells. 

“Up front, Lawson Porter earns his first start at Loosehead at the expense of Josh Scott. We welcome back Euan McVie, released from Edinburgh, who comes in for the injured Jamie Campbell and Charlie Jupp returns from an injury he picked up in pre season to replace Wallace Nelson. The final change to the starting lineup sees Jason Hill start at No. 8 for the unavailable Ruairidh Leishman. 

“On the bench, we welcome back Michael Liness, Chris Keen, who also picked up an injury in pre-season, and premiership champion Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, who will all provide big front row impact when they take the field. Finally, a debut lies in wait for the released Jack Hocking. 

“We are looking forward to getting back to Sprint action after the week off. Although we missed out on the final result vs Edinburgh we were buoyed by a vastly improved performance. That is now the bare minimum standard we must produce for the rest of the season.   

“The Bears will be looking to get back to winning ways after a couple of poor results. Friday nights at Meggetland are always really good events and we look forward to going there for our first Friday night game of the season.”

Graham Sheil (Boroughmuir Bears): “Corey Tait earning his first start in the middle of the scrum this season takes over at Hooker from Arthur Allen. Corey joins Callum McFeat Smith who is starting at Loose Head and Martin McGinley at Tight Head. 

“Jack Fisher (Vice Captain) returns to the second row after a brief deployment to to the back row where he partners Max Laboda. 

“Myles Lowe returns to the starting team at Blind Side flanker, Drew Davison, starts at 8 and Lewis Calder returns to the match day squad starting at Open Side.  

“Ruairidh Swan continues at scrum half with a new half back partner in Andy McLean, who starts for the first time in the Sprint at Fly Half.  

“Scott Robeson captains the squad from inside centre, joining up with Glasgow Warrior Academy player Johnny Ventisei.  

“Max Wallace comes into the stating XV to make his debut alongside Matt Reid on the wings and completing the Back 3 is Euan Muirhead at 15.  

“Arthur Allen starts from the bench this week as Hooker cover. After winning the Premiership with Currie Chieftains, Chris Anderson comes into the match day squad covering Loose Head. Again remaining with the squad on ‘emergency cover’ is Zach Toerien (Boroughmuir RFC) who will be covering Tight Head. Ryan Burke is released from Glasgow Warriors and will start from the bench with Liam Habib completing the forward cover this week.   

“With Josh Beveridge having departed to Australia to pursue rugby opportunities, Ross Cadzow joins the squad for the remainder of the Sprint Competition and he will start from the bench covering scrum half. George Paul covers Fly Half and will start from the bench this week with Rowan Stewart covering the outside backs. 

“This week we welcome Heriot’s to Meggetland. Heriot’s have experience and quality throughout their squad and ran a very good Edinburgh Rugby ‘A’ side close with their attacking brand of rugby. We are very aware of the size of the task in front of us this week and will need to be at our best to compete with Heriots. They bring a big physical pack with a threatening backline which is a tough combination to cope with.  

“We were no match for our opponents in round 3, so our focus has been on ourselves and using the time between the rounds to freshen players up and continue to seek progression within the group. We did not respect the possession we had in round 3, which against the caliber of teams in this competition, they will hurt you. We need to be willing and work harder to retain possession and find ways to stress the opposition defense this week more often.  

“Friday night lights at Meggetland is always a good occasion and with local rivals Heriots our opposition, we look forward to a fine evening of rugby”

Saturday 16 May: Ayrshire Bulls v Southern Knights
KO 3pm

How to Watch
Highlights of the game will be here on Monday.

Be There
Tickets are available from Ayrshire Bulls HERE.

Match Officials 
Ref Michael Todd
AR1 Ciaran Stark
AR2 Allan Parry

Coaches Comments
Pat McArthur (Ayrshire Bulls): “It’s good to be back at Millbrae in front of our home crowd. The players showed renewed energy at training this week after a well-deserved week off and are eager to get stuck into what will be three big games to close of the sprint series. Southern Knights is a young team that likes to throw the ball about especially in broken play and turn overs, we’ll need to be accurate in what we do, and our defense will need to stay connected. We’ve worked hard on sticking to our structure and playing in the right areas. 

Jake Shearer will make he’s first start for the Bulls replacing the unavailable Jamie Drummond. We also see Ryan Sweeney return from injury in the place of Blair Macpherson who moves to the bench. Other changes include, Jamie Shedden, Bobbie Beattie, Reiss Cullen, Oscar Baird and Calvin Henderson starting in place of Mason Cullen, Robbie Orr, Fergus Johnston, Rory Jackson and Rhodri Tanner.”

Iain Chisholm (Southern Knights):  “Ayrshire Bulls are a great team, well coached and very well organised. They’re powerful upfront and play off their dominant set piece so we want to stop the game going from stoppage to stoppage. If we can do that, and match them physically, we’ll give ourselves a chance. It’s a huge challenge, but one the boys are looking forward to after a disappointing performance against Watsonians.”

Saturday 4 May: Stirling Wolves v Watsonians Rugby
KO 3pm

How to Watch
Highlights of the game will be here on Monday.

Be There
Tickets are available from Stirling Wolves HERE.

Match Officials 
Ref Ru Campbell
AR1 David Young
AR2 Stephen Ward

Coaches Comments
Eddie Pollock (Stirling Wolves): “After a very good performance against Heriot’s in our last outing we make one change to the starting line up with Shaun MacDonald coming in for the injured MacKenzzie Duncan. On the bench we are excited to have Ru Hart back from Glasgow Warriors and look forward to watching young talent in Fergus Read and Callum Ferrie making their debuts for Wolves.  

Watsonians along with Bulls have been our hardest opponents throughout the last 5 years of Super Series rugby. They are a physically direct side, always well coached with a proud record in the competition. We will need to be at our best to get a result and I expect the crowd will experience a fantastic contest. 

Our players have come off the down week in good condition and the coaches have put them through some pretty intense sessions in preparation for a very physical contest. They are under no illusions of the performance and effort required if we are to come away with another home win.”

Fraser Brown (Watsonians): “After a weekend with no game following our win down in Melrose we are looking forward to getting back to action against last years Championship winners.

After a tough opening round against Ayr, Stirling showed their quality against Heriots in round two and we know we will have to be at our best if we are to come away with a win.

We are pleased to welcome back our Club captain at number 8 after missing out on the last 2 games through injury. He will be joined in the back row by Tom Currie giving us a really exciting and explosive back 5 of the scrum.

We are also really pleased to welcome back Conor McAlpine from injury. Conor was excellent for us last season and it’s a huge boost to have him back.”