SATURDAY 16 APRIL: HERIOT’S v SOUTHERN KNIGHTS

Heriot’s Rugby host Southern Knights at Goldenacre on Saturday (kick-off 4.30pm).

Despite finishing fifth in the regular season, Heriot’s were sixth in the final standings of the 2021 FOSROC Super6 Championship after losing their playoff to Bears.

Knights were top of the table heading into the play-offs but lost to Bulls in the final.

In the 2021 championship, Knights beat Heriot’s 36-15 at Goldenacre in August before winning 42-29 at The Greenyards.

How to Watch
The contest in Edinburgh will be shown live on BBC Sport online, BBC iPlayer and the Scottish Rugby website HERE.

Be there
You can buy your tickets to Goldenacre here: https://www.citizenticket.co.uk/events/heriot-s-ru…

Match Officials
Referee – Ross Mabon
AR 1 – Michael Todd
AR 2 – Sam O’Neil

What the Coaches said
Andrew Kelly (Heriot’s Rugby): “This is a great opportunity for those selected to show what they can do. We have selected a starting 15 that we think will compete with Southern Knights but we have a great bench to come on and make an impact.

Players, coaches and management are really looking forward to getting back into competitive rugby. We have a great challenge for our first game as the Knights were runners up in last seasons competition and are a very good side.”

Bruce Ruthven (Southern Knights): “There are 10 players making their debut for the Southern knights tomorrow afternoon.

We’ve had to make some tight decisions for selection across the board but we have picked a selection of youth and experience for our first outing of the season.

We’re looking forward to making a start and we know it will be a tough game up at Goldenacre.”

TEAM SELECTIONS 

The teams for the final fixture of our opening weekend have been announced. @HeriotsRugby take on @Sthrn_Knights tomorrow, with the game available to view on @BBCiPlayer and on the Scottish Rugby website.#FOSROCSuper6 pic.twitter.com/uxqTv7sdU5

— FOSROC Super6 (@Super6Rugby) April 15, 2022

SATURDAY 16 APRIL: WATSONIANS v STIRLING COUNTY 

On Saturday, Watsonians host Stirling County at Myreside (kick off 2pm). The match is a repeat of the 2021 FOSROC Super6 3^rd/4^th play-off which Watsonians won 21-19. In the regular season, the sides won a game each as Watsonians took a close game 10-7 back in August and Stirling taking a high-scoring contest 41-39 in September.

How to Watch
The contest in Edinburgh will be shown live on BBC Sport online, BBC iPlayer and the Scottish Rugby website HERE.

Be there
You can buy your tickets to Myerside here: https://ctzn.tk/StirlingSprint

Match Officials
Referee – Hollie Davidson
AR 1 – Jonny Perriam
AR 2 – Brian McGuff

What the Coaches said
Fergus Pringle (Watsonians): “A few players will make their few debuts in the Super6 tomorrow afternoon whilst a few others will make their Myrerside debut too.

“We’ve had a tough week of injuries and other unavailability of players and had to call in a few back up players. They’ve gelled well with the team and brought great energy and everyones really excited to get going.

“Both Gregor Scougall and Ryan Daley will make debuts for the team but have experience playing at Myreside as former students at George Watsons.

“We’re excited to be back at Myreside after a long off season of work and preparation. We expect a tough game, Stirling always give us a good game.”

Ben Cairns (Stirling County): “There are 11 players are in-line to make their debuts for the side including two Glasgow Warriors who are released – Ratu Tagive & Walter Fifita.

“There are a total of seven U20 players involved and we are really looking forward to seeing how these young men take their opportunity. Both the debutants and our younger players will be supported throughout by an experienced core group who know what it takes to win for County in Super6, including our Co-captains Connor Gordon and Marcus Holden.

“It is great to finally be back to competitive action after our winter break and we are really looking forward to the challenge of going to Myreside in Round 1. Watsonians have traditionally been the pace setters in the competition, they’ve recruited well including the three signings from the Southern Knights who will really add to their squad depth.

“We had a bit of a dress rehearsal for this match last Friday, playing Watsonians at Myreside in our final pre-season match, so it’ll be interesting to see how much both teams have learned from that encounter and have developed their game plan going into this week.

“These matches have always been pretty close. Myreside is a great place to play rugby, the pitch is always in excellent condition and the weather forecast looks good, so we are all set for another quality match in the FOSROC Super6.”

TEAM SELECTIONS

Ahead of starting their campaigns at Myreside on Saturday, @WATSONIANFC and @StirlingCounty have named their sides.

Reminder, this game will be available to view on @BBCiPlayer and on the Scottish Rugby website.#FOSROCSuper6 pic.twitter.com/mIKG6kWDig

— FOSROC Super6 (@Super6Rugby) April 15, 2022

FRIDAY 15 APRIL: AYRSHIRE BULLS v BOROUGHMUIR BEARS

The competition begins with Ayrshire Bulls hosting Boroughmuir Bears on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm).

Bulls clinched the 2021 FOSROC Super6 in October, defeating Southern Knights 26-16 in the final at DAM Health Stadium, while Bears finished fifth after beating Heriot’s 21-15 in the fifth versus sixth play off.

How to Watch
You can watch live on FreeSports from 7:30pm, Freeview HD channel 64, Sky HD channel 422, Virgin HD 553, TalkTalk 64, BT Vision channel 64 and on the online FreeSports Player. Outside of the UK and Ireland you can watch on the Scottish Rugby website.

Be there
You can buy your tickets to the fixture at Millbrae here: https://www.ayrrugbyclub.co.uk/product/ayrshire-bu…

2021 results
Ayrshire Bulls 24-10 Boroughmuir Bears
Boroughmuir Bears 17-27 Ayrshire Bulls

Match Officials
Referee – Jonny Perriam
AR1 – Dunx McClement
AR2 – Bob Nevins

What the Coaches said
Pete Horne (Ayrshire Bulls): “Off the back of an excellent pre season there have been selection headaches throughout the starting 15. Everyone that is fit has put their best foot forward with the opportunities they have been given which has made it very difficult to decide who has the honour of opening the competition for us this season.

“The starting 15 has a nice blend of youth and experience and our bench is loaded and ready to make a big impact.

“I’m really excited for Friday night. The group have worked incredibly hard over the last couple of months and I cant wait to see them get out and express themselves at Millbrae this weekend.

“Boroughmuir have recruited well and we know they will have improved after another pre season together with their coaching team. They play a great brand of rugby which makes them very dangerous when they get their attack going, and they have some real x factor throughout their squad. It should be a terrific curtain raiser for the competition.”

Graham Shiel (Boroughmuir Bears): “Although there are a number of changes overall to the Boroughmuir Bears 2022 Sprint Series squad, there is still a familiar look to the squad selected to open the 2022 FOSROC Super6 Sprint competition.

“Seven debutants start the opening game with a further four to make their debuts from the bench. Craig Keddie captains the squad again and starts at No 8. We welcome back Gregor Brown after a lengthy period away and completing the back row is Scott McGinley at openside.

“Promising young hooker, Corey Tait starts alongside Ross Dunbar and Martin McGinley in the front row and a new boiler house pairing of Euan Ferrie and Josh King in the second-row complete the starting pack.

“Behind the scrum a new half back partnership in Ruairidh Swan and Harry Mercer will navigate Millbrae on Friday evening. In the centres looking to build on an excellent 2021 campaign Robbie McCallum joins Scott Robeson who is new to the Bears and has impressed in pre-season.

“The back three is led by the experienced Tom Brown, he is joined by new players Joe Jenkins and Adam Scott.

“On the bench Iain Carmichael (Glasgow Hawks) joins us on ‘emergency cover’ as hooker Jerry Blyth-Lafferty is with Scotland U18 in France.

“New recruits Brandon Sweet and Callum Smith will also make their debuts. The introduction of Glasgow Warriors Hamish Bain, Jack Fisher and FOSROC Academy player and U20 Captain Rhys Tait to the fixture providing them an opportunity to make an impact and continue their development.

“Murray Johnston covers scrum half with the welcome return of Duncan Munn from U20 duties to impact from the bench completes the match day 23.

“For the third time, we are delighted to be involved in the opening fixture of a FOSROC Super6 competition. It is the toughest of openers for the Bears, away to Ayr on a Friday night. What a chance to gauge ourselves against against the current Champions!

“Pre-season has been a bit different than normal this year, but the squad are looking forward to progressing from where they were in 2021 with a mixture of existing and new players in the squad which is shaping up to be exciting and provides this group an opportunity to put a marker down from which to move forward in 2022.”

TEAM SELECTIONS

.@AyrshireBulls and @MuirBears have confirmed their teams for tomorrow night's FOSROC Super6 Sprint Series opener at Millbrae.#FOSROCSuper6 pic.twitter.com/7TWytmfNcH

— FOSROC Super6 (@Super6Rugby) April 14, 2022