Local rivals kick-off BT Premiership opener

The BT Premiership returns on Saturday with ten teams going head-to-head across the country to gain the perfect start to the 2016/17 season.Scotland’s premier club competition welcomes Watsonians, who return to the top flight for the first time since the 2010/11 season.Last season’s BT National League Division 1 winners host local rivals and reigning champions Heriot’s at Myreside in the opening round.Watsonians Head Coach, Marcus Di Rollo, said: “We are all looking forward to this and the squad have worked hard in training.Heriot’s won everything last season and we know it will be tough but we will give our all and enjoy our first game of the new season as a BT Premiership team.”Heriot’s Head Coach, Phil Smith, said: Two league champions on show and a local derby make this a really exciting start to the new season.Watsonians have recruited very well and have put together a more competitive pack to complement an already exciting back division.With the loss of a few key players we are looking to get the new players up to the level of the BT Premiership as quickly as possible.Elsewhere, the 2015/16 table-toppers Ayr welcome Currie, who featured in last season’s semi-final play-offs.Glasgow Hawks, who narrowly missed out on a play-off place will face Gala at Netherdale where the Borders side will be looking to improve on their battle with relegation in 2015/16.Boroughmuir will travel to The Greenyards to compete against performers Melrose, another club who progressed to the knock-out stages last season.Stirling County will round-up the first weekend of fixtures with a visit from Borders side Hawick to Bridgehaugh.Scottish Rugby TV will exclusively live-stream Gala’s hosting of Hawks from Netherdale, with commentary from Glasgow Warriors Head Coach, Gregor Townsend, and the BBC’s Bill Johnstone. Round one of the BT Cup also takes place this weekend with teams from across the BT leagues competing. BT Premiership teams (Saturday 27 August) Watsonians v Heriot’s, Myreside, 3pmWatsonians: Andrew Chalmers; Mark Bertram, Scott McLeod, James King CAPTAIN, Keith Young; Ewan Scott, Reiss Cullen; Nathan Borel, Seam Crombie, Ewan McQullin, Matt Poole, Craig Borthwick, Euan Dodds, Dairmaid Dee, Rory Drummond. Replacements: Darren Miller, Shaun Ruwers, Angus Duckett, Euan McKirdy, DJ Innes.Heriot’s: Gavin Parker; Jordan Webster, Liam Steele, John Semple, Josh Laird; Alex Hagart, Andrew Simmers; Murray McCallum, Michael Liness, Struan Cessford, Russell Nimmo, Clarke Smith, Dylan Mason, Jack McLean, Callum Marshall. Replacements: Logan Sinclair, Martin Bouab, Joe Kuru, Tom Wilson. Ayr v Currie, Millbrae, 3pmAyr: Craig Gossman; Jamie Bova, Archie Russell, Ross Curle, Cameron Taylor; Fraser Climo, David Armstrong; George Hunter, David Young, Steven Longwell, Craig Stevenson, Robert McAlpine, Lee Scott, Gregor Henry, Pete McCallum CAPTAIN. Replacements: Robbie Smith, Adam Prentice, Blair Macpherson, Danny McCluskey, Stafford McDowall.Currie: Harvey Elms; Matthew Hooks, Matt McPhillips, Robbie Nelson, Cameron Gray; Jamie Forbes, Charlie Shiel; John Cox, Fergus Scott, Graeme Carson, Hamish Bain, Stephen Ainslie, Rhys Davies, Thomas Gordon, Ross Weston CAPTAIN. Replacements: Paul Mundell, A.P McWilliam, Gary Temple, Richard Snedden, Graeme Clow.Stirling County v Hawick, Bridgehaugh, 3pmStirling County: Bruce Sorbie; Matt Lamb, Jake Cresswell, Ryan Elliston, Craig Pringle; Jonny Hope, Alex Black; Mike MacDonald, Reyner Kennedy, Adam Nicol, Callum Hunter-Hill CAPTAIN, Adam Sinclair, Ruairidh Lieshman, Shaun McDonald, Alex Taylor. Replacements: Matt Emmison, Mark Hunter, Hamilton Burr, Colin Turnbull, Ross Jones.Hawick: Kirk Ford; D’arcy Graham, Gary Johnstone, Grant Huggan, Neil McColm; Ali Weir, Bruce Campbell; Shaun Muir, Fraser Renwick, Calum MacIntosh, Bruce McNeil CAPTAIN, Micheal Robertson, Andrew Horne, Stuart Graham, Keith Davis. Replacements: Mathew Landels, Ross Gibson, Rory Scott, Kyle Brunton, Wesley Simpson.Melrose v Boroughmuir, The Greenyards, 3pmMelrose: Fraser Thomson; Ross McCann, George Taylor, Craig Jackson, Austin Lockington; Jason Baggott, Murdo McAndrew, Jamie Bhatti, Russell Anderson, Nick Beavon, James Head, Lewis Carmichael, Neil Irvine-Hess, Grant Runciman CAPTAIN, Ian Moody. Replacements: Cammy Mckay, Ruairi McLeod, Ruaridh Knott, Richard Taylor, Bruce Colvine.Boroughmuir: Dougie Steele; Jordan Edmunds, Alex Cox, Mark Hare, Rob Cairns; Chris Laidlaw CAPTAIN, Sam Johnson, Dale Robertson, Tristan King, Thomas Gracie, Jamie Ure, Matthew Tweddle, Craig Keddie, Andy Rose, Aubrey McCube. Replacements: James Bett, Dan Winning, Jamie Scott, Grant McConnell, Ross Bradford.Gala v Glasgow Hawks, Netherdale, 3pmGala: Graham Spiers CAPTAIN, Aidan Turner, Paul Hendry, Rex Jeffrey, Craig Robertson; Gregor Hunter, George Lott; Chris Keen, Matt Carryer, Gary Robertson, Rob Louw, Chris Weir, Alan Edmond, Scott Chapman, Stevie Cairns. Replacements: Dean Brooker, Richie Tod, Josh Irvine, Gregor Mein, Ross Combe. Glasgow Hawks: Jack Steele; Robert Beattie, Erland Oag, Davie Milne, Kerr Gossman; Josh Henderson, George Horne; Steven Findlay, Grant Stewart, Gary Strain, Kiran McDonald, Andrew Kirkland, Andy Hill, Matt Fagerson, Tommy Spinks CAPTAIN. Replacements: Scott Rodgers, Brendan Cullinane, Matt Smith, Paddy Boyer, Hagan Schulte.