Preview – FOSROC Super6 Round 9

Sunday 23 February 

Ayrshire Bulls will be looking to get back to winning ways tomorrow [Sunday] when they make the trip to Edinburgh to take on Boroughmuir Bears.

Experienced prop Gordon Reid returns from injury to start in the Bulls pack alongside Nicolas Griffith and current top try scorer in the FOSROC Super6, Sam Kitchen at hooker. Fraser Hastie and Lars Morrice start in the second row, in the back row are George Bordill, Blair Macpherson and Peter McCallum who will captain the Bulls.

Head Coach Peter Murchie has rotated his scrumhalf’s meaning that Harry Warr, he will partner Tom Jordan at stand-off with FOSROC Academy player Ross Thomson moves to fullback.

Boroughmuir Bears have had a tricky start to the new year, Graham Sheill’s side will be looking to earn their second win of the tournament this weekend.

Sheill has selected Toby Fracombe to earn his first FOSROC Super6 start at hooker where he will join AP McWilliam and Nathan Borel of Watsonians*, who complete the front row. Ewan Stewart and Will Inglis are the two starting locks whilst David Mejebeur starts at blind side flanker as Scott McGinley moves to open side for Matthew Walker, with Craig Keddie at number eight.

Murray Johnstone also earns his first start of the FOSROC Super6 at scrumhalf with Chris Laidlaw returning to stand-off where he will captain the side. In the mid-field Archie Russell partners Ronan Kerr, Glen Faulds, Cammy Gray and Jordan Edmunds start as the back three.

*Due to unavailability and injury Boroughmuir Bears have permission to use permit and emergency cover players from Watsonians, Musselburgh and their own club XV side.

Weekend of Friday 14 to Sunday 20 February 

Tomorrow [Friday] evening second place Heriot’s make the short, four-mile trip, across Edinburgh to face league leaders Watsonians.

Sunday Stirling County travel to the Southern Knights, who sit only one place above them, in a match that will be broadcast live on Scottish Rugby TV and on BBC Sport Scotland.

Watsonians will be looking to retain their top place in the FOSROC Super6 when they come up against Heriot’s in a Friday night Edinburgh derby. The two teams both sit on 28 leauge points with the team from Myreside at the top with a points difference of 64 to Heriot’s 61.

Fergus Pringle, Watsonians Head Coach, has made only two changes to his starting team who lost narrowly to Stirling County in round eight. In the pack Michael Badenhorst replaces James Millar at open side flanker.

In the back-line Lomond MacPherson returns to the wing for Andrew Chalmers who moves to the bench.

Ruaraidh Smith has a spot on the bench alongside Harry Fisher and Ross Graham, who could make his FOSROC Super6 debut after six months out due to injury.

Heriot’s will be looking to earn their sixth win a row when they travel to Myreside. Head Coach Phil Smith has selected a settled squad, similar to the team who produced a dominant win against Boroughmuir Bears in round eight.

In the pack Adam Sinclair packs down alongside Charles Jupp in the boiler house for Callum Marshall who moves to the bench, the back row remains unchanged with skipper Iain Wilson at blind side flanker.

Ross Jones returns to stand-off in place of Stewart Edwards and Harry Paterson starts at full-back. In the centre Cameron Hutchison is joined by Chris Dean of Edinburgh Rugby with James Spencer and James Couper on either wing.

On the bench FOSROC Academy stage 3 player Finlay Scott returns to the Heriot’s squad alongside scrum-half Dan Nutton and front row Struan Cessford.

The Southern Knights will look to continue their recent run of form tomorrow [Sunday] when they host Stirling County, in a match that will be broadcast live on Scottish Rugby TV and BBC Sport Scotland.

Head Coach Rob Chrystie has made only one change to his starting team who won against Ayrshire Bulls last time out.

The forward pack remains the same with Grant Shiells, Fraser Renwick and Ewan Mcquillan packing down in the front row, James Head and Angus Runciman in the second row and Ruaridh Knott, Dylan Taylor and Neil Irvine-Hess at the back of the scrum.

Edinburgh Rugby have released Jason Baggott who starts at stand-off, in place of Tom Galbraith, he will partner Struan Hutchinson at scrumhalf. In the mid-field Gavin Wood and Joe Jenkins combine with Patrick Anderson and Ciaran Whyte on either wing, Fraser Thomson will captain the side from fullback.

Dalton Redpath recovers from illness to start on the bench, who will be looking to make an impact when they come on.

Stirling County will be looking to continue their momentum after their triumphant win over table toppers Watsonians in round eight.

Ben Cairns has made three changes to his starting pack, James Pow starts at second row alongside Ollie Bartlett. Ali Mackie is unfortunate to miss out through injury after scoring a hat-trick against the men from Myreside so Dean Taylor-Menzies moves to number eight with George Arnott earning a spot on the blind side flank after impressing during an internal training game.

In the back-line Caleb Korteweg starts at scrum half as Sean Kennedy misses out due to an injury. Ewan MacGarvie returns to the wing and Ollie Horne earns a first FOSROC Super6 start at fullback.

On the bench Glasgow Warriors have released Jale Vakaloloma and Josh King could make his FOSROC Super6 debut.