Friday 19 April: Southern Knights v Edinburgh A
KO 7:35pm

How to Watch

This Friday’s game will be broadcast live on BBC ALBA with coverage starting from 7.30pm.

BBC ALBA is available on: Freeview / You View 7 (Scotland only), Freesat 109 (UK), Sky 117 (Scotland), Sky 169 (rest of UK), Sky Glass 121 (Scotland), Sky Glass 172 (Rest of UK), Virgin Media 120 (Scotland), Virgin Media 161 (rest of UK).

It is also available on the BBC ALBA channel on BBC iPlayer https://www.bbc.co.uk/tv/bbcalba and BBC Alba YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/bbcalba.

Be There
Tickets are available from the Southern Knights HERE.

Match Officials 
Ref Jonny Perriam
AR1 David Changleng
AR2 Bob Nevins

Team Selections

What they said: 
Scott Wight Southern Knights Attack Coach: “Pre-season has gone really well for the Knights and there is a great feel within the squad. We are really looking forward to Friday nights challenge, but we’re under no illusions how hard it will be to play against Edinburgh A. As a group we can’t wait to get our Sprint season underway with a potential 11 debuts at this level, which is exciting.” 

 Kris Burney Edinburgh A Head Coach: “We’re really excited to come together as a squad and play our first game of the FOSROC Super Series Sprint competition.
“Facing the Southern Knights at The Greenyards – one of the most iconic grounds in rugby – is a great way to start the first of three games for this group of players, many of whom will be looking to use this as a platform to progress to the senior squad.”
He continued: “We’ve been able to select a good blend of experience for this opening match with plenty of senior caps in the pack. We’re looking forward to seeing how we go on a fast track, something we’re used to training and playing on at our home, Hive Stadium.” 

Friday 19 April: Ayrshire Bulls v Stirling Wolves
KO 7:35pm

How to Watch
Highlights from this game will be available on the Scottish Rugby website on Monday evening.

Be There 
Tickets are available from Ayrshire Bulls HERE.

Match Officials
Ref Ruairidh Campbell
AR1 Michael Todd
AR2 John Smith

Team Selections

What they said: 
Ayrshire Bulls Head Coach Pat McArthur: “It’s brilliant to open the FOSROC Super Sprint Series at Millbrae in front of a home crowd. With a replay of the championship final, we know it will be a physical encounter.  

“With a few debutants, the players will be keen to make their mark and test themselves against the championship winners.  

 “With only 7 changes to last seasons squad, we have good experience in the form of Calvin Henderson, Blair Macpherson, Ed Bloodworth, Reiss Cullen and Bobbie Beattie to lead a youth group of players eager to make their mark. Jake Shearer (18) is one of those exciting young players looking to make he’s competitive debt of the bench. Others looking to make their first appearance for the Bulls are David McCartney, Robbie Orr, Mason Cullen and Marcus Kershaw.” 

 Eddie Pollock Stirling Wolves Head Coach said: “We look to give first starts to the experienced Stevie Longwell and former Scotland U20 lock Jare Oguntibeju in an otherwise settled side. Former Bristol back row Macenzzie Duncan will be looking to make an impact of the bench alongside U20 international Archie Clarke and prop Ben Cullen.

“Facing a fired up Bulls side at Millbrae is an enormous challenge, but we have prepared well and are excited about the opportunity to test ourselves once again against what is a very physical well coached side. Bulls as always will be very direct trying to dominate the gain line and we will need to be at our best defensively to give ourselves an opportunity to come away with a positive result in what promises to be an exciting start to the 2024 Super Series campaign.  

I am looking forward personally to see how this Wolves side can continue to develop its attacking game against what is always a very tough defensive unit. This is the type of match everyone wants to be involved in.”

Saturday 20 April: Boroughmuir Bears v Glasgow A
KO 3pm

How to Watch
Highlights from this game will be available on the Scottish Rugby website on Monday evening.

Be There 
Tickets are available from Boroughmuir Bears HERE.

Match Officials
Ref Rob McDowell
AR1 Michael Milner
AR2 Digby Thomas

Team Selections 

What They Said
Glasgow Warriors A Coach Pete Horne: “We are looking forward to seeing lots of our young players get an opportunity to showcase their abilities in a competitive fixture.  

“The club is struggling with injuries throughout the forwards, so we have five backs on the bench. It’s a great opportunity for a couple of Inter District club players to rise to the challenge of playing at a higher level in Howe of Fifes Fraser Allan and Glasgow Hawks  James  Imrie.” 

Boroughmuir Bears Head Coach Graham Sheil: “There have been a number of changes to the group over the close season. With players departing; however provides further opportunities for new players coming in to the Super Series to promote themselves and gain further rugby experience and opportunities.  

The Bears have a challenging start to the season first up versus the professional squad of Glasgow Warriors. None the less a challenge and one that the Bears players are relishing. We know that the Warriors will be a very well organized and well drilled squad with an abundece of talent throughout their squad, so the Bears need to be alert, step up to the task in front of them and work hard to compete and enjoy the opportunity of playing a fully professional outfit for the last time.  

It will be great to see on view a high number of current, recent national U20 players on view in one venue. Hopefully this is a sign of the things that lie ahead on the rugby landscape in Scotland enabling us to nurture the next generation of player in Scotland. 

As has been our aim over the duration of the Super Series program, the Bears seek to expose young players to as high a level of rugby as possible, perform at a level befitting the competition and one from which to build forward into the season. We aim to make this campaign as enjoyable as possible along with providing players with the opportunity to challenge themselves against some very tough opposition and take these memories forward with them in their rugby, whatever that holds.” 

Saturday 20 April: Heriot’s Rugby v Watsonians
KO 3pm

How to Watch
Highlights from this game will be available on the Scottish Rugby website on Monday evening.

Be There 
Tickets are available from Heriot’s Rugby HERE.

Match Officials
Ref David Sutherland
AR1 David Young
AR2 Alistair Watt

Team Selections 

What They Said
Heriot’s Head Coach Ben Cairns: “A largely familiar looking squad with the addition of 3 debutants in the starting backline and 3 debutants lying in wait to have impact off the bench. Christian Townsend makes the switch from Ayrshire Bulls and starts at Full Back. He is joined in the backs by former Herioter and Newcastle University student Fergus Wood and former Tuggeranong Vikings captain Seamus Smith.

Lawson Porter the released Edinburgh pro academy player Ollie Blyth-Lafferty and Heriot’s Blues player Angus Hunter will look to make their first appearances for our Super Series side off the bench. We also welcome back Jason Hill after a long injury lay off and a transition period playing for the Blues. Finally, we have a new skipper for the season in the form of our Scottish Qualified Aussie, Liam Richman.

 What a way to start our campaign against our nearest rivals on Saturday afternoon at Goldenacre. These games are always very entertaining encounters, and we cannot wait to get into it. It’s been a pretty short and sharp pre-season off the back of a fairly long off-season. However, the guys have come in heavily motivated to have one final crack at the title. If we are to achieve that ambition we have to get off to a quick start, there is not a lot of time to play catch up.

I am sure Watsonians will have a similar mindset buoyed by a new Head Coach in Fraser Brown. He will have added some great detail to the group from his pro experience and with it being their first competitive match we go into the encounter expecting the unexpected from them.”

Watsonians Head Coach Fraser Brown: “After a short but intense pre-season, we can’t wait to get back out on pitch for our first meaningful game of the sprint series. And what a game to start with against our old inter-city rivals, one of the strongest teams in the competition, Heriot’s.

I’ve been really impressed with the commitment and application of all our players over the last 7 weeks or so and it certainly made this week’s selection, my first, all the more difficult.

Whilst we are fortunate to welcome back some seasoned and experienced players in Luis Ball, Kwagga Van Niekerk, Jason Baggot and Dom Coetzer, there are also places in our matchday squad for some young talent. Robbie Deans, Fin Thomson, Gavin Parry are all names familiar to those who watched Scotland Under20’s in the recent Under-20 Six Nations. Jake Parkinson, who featured just last year.

There are also opportunities for several players who have come into our environment after impressing across the club season. Josh Mitchell has been excellent and is rewarded with a start on the right wing while Scott Clark and Ryan Coetzer will look to impress off the bench.

The 18 year old Oli Gordon has been really impressive through pre-season and gets a spot on the bench and it’s great to be able to welcome Cole Lamberton back after some time away due to injury.

We are once again Captained by the Excellent Neil Irvine-Hess”