Men’s Premiership & National 1 Preview | Saturday 6 January

HAWICK, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 18: Players from each Men's Premiership club during the Men's Premiership Launch at Mansfield Park, on August 18, 2023, in Hawick, Scotland. (Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group)

Currie Chieftains v Hawick – Malleny Park, 2pm

In the men’s Premiership, there’s a top of the table encounter at Malleny Park as third-placed Currie Chieftains host leaders Hawick.

The fixture was originally intended to be played on 2 December, but was postponed due to a frozen pitch.

Currie Chieftains Head Coach Mark Cairns said: “We are looking forward to hosting the league champions at Malleny Park this weekend. I have been
pleased with our performances leading up to Christmas but this is the ultimate test of where we are at.

“It’s great to have Jamie Forbes back in the team and I am also looking forward to seeing Joe Reynolds off the bench.

“Matt and his coaching team continue to do a great job at Hawick and they will be very tough to beat, but we are at home and when we play our best at Malleny we don’t lose.”

Hawick Director of Rugby Gary Muir added: “The boys have worked hard over the Christmas break leading into the last part of the league campaign and there is no tougher place to start again than Malleny Park.

“We are keen to get back into action though and this one should be a feisty encounter with no quarter given and hopefully come full time we will be on the right side of the scoreboard.”

Glasgow Hawks v Kelso – Balgray, 2pm

Kelso will hope to take the chance to jump into the playoff spots whilst those around them have the weekend off when they travel to Glasgow Hawks.

A bonus point win for Kelso would see them overtake Heriot’s Blues in fourth place, whilst a win for Glasgow Hawks would narrow the gap between themselves and Selkirk, who sit seven points above them but have played two games more.

Glasgow Hawks Head Coach Andy Hill said: “Kelso have done exceptionally well since coming into the league and that is evidenced by their run of results which has put them in the playoff picture.

“Our last outing against Kelso grabbed headlines for all the wrong reasons and to say the lads were disappointed with their performance was an understatement. Kelso’s game plan challenged us to be physical and we did not rise to that and they were worthy winners on the day.

“We hope to give a much better account of ourselves this time around.”

National 1

In National League Division 1, champions elect Ayr will look to continue their unbeaten run at home to Highland.

Eighth-placed Biggar will hope to move up a spot by beating seventh-placed Gala at Hartree Mill.

And there will be a Glasgow derby to look forward to as GHA host Glasgow Academicals.

This weekend, Ayr v Highland is at 3pm whilst both other fixtures are at 2pm.