GH Media

03/10/2025

'World Cuppers' return as mid-season split looms over the horizon

03/10/2025

In their last two Arnold Clark National Three games Aberdeen Grammar Rugby have built up some momentum and Scott Byars wants them to keep building when they welcome Dumfries Saints to Rubislaw tomorrow looking for a third victory on the spin.

By their own admission, Grammar got off to a really poor start to the 2025-26 campaign and in the opening two weeks Justin Taljaard’s men suffered heavy defeats to Preston Lodge and Lasswade.

However, they regrouped and found form to defeat Hillhead Jordanhill 60-28 at home in week three and then defeated Orkney on the road in week four.

Both of those triumphs came with bonus points and full-back Byars, 25, scored tries in each of them.

He and his team mates, who are sitting eighth in the 10-team standings, are keen to get back into action after last weekend off and Byars said: “We started off the season very poorly with performances in the first two games far below what we know we are capable of, but we have built a bit of momentum in the last couple of games and have been really focused on cementing our game plan and improving on it as we move forward.

“As a result, I’m confident we can keep the good form going into this next batch of games starting with Dumfries. We expect Dumfries to have a big heavy pack that will try to drag us into and arm wrestle, but if we move the ball wide and keep the speed of play quick then I reckon we can cause them real problems.

“I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season and I’m quite optimistic that it if we keep training as hard as we are and keep buying into the game plan then we can start competing at the top end of the table and even compete for top spot.”

Dumfries are fourth in the table going into this game.

Byars, who is from Westhill and started playing rugby at Westhill Academy and Aberdeen Wanderers when he was 12, is just one of a number of exciting backs that Grammar have.

“I starting playing for Grammar in 2023 and it’s a great club to be involved in,” he explained.

“There are plenty of social activities planned every month and the camaraderie amongst the boys on and off the park is second to none.

“After some rocky years the club has definitely steadied the ship and we are building for a bright future.”

Elsewhere in National Three, Orkney are on the road to Glasgow to take on West of Scotland.

Orkney are ninth in the table just now, but their one win so far did come on their travels at Garnock and they will look to cause seventh placed West some problems.

There is a week off in National One meaning that Gordonians can rest up and get ready to go again after a tough start to the campaign with five losses from five.

In National Two, unbeaten Highland, who are second, will be looking to keep up their great start away to fifth place Dundee Rugby.

With last year’s Highland backs coach Junior Bulumakau now involved in the coaching team at the Mayfield Club it could certainly be an interesting encounter.

Ellon and Moray are eighth and ninth respectively in National Four and have just one win from eight games between them so far this term so they will be looking to kick start things.

The two sides meet at The Meadows in a clash that should bring out a good crowd and be closely contested.

Mackie are top of Caledonia One’s North Conference, but suffered a big defeat at Highland’s 2nd XV last time out and will be keen to get back on track against Caithness at home.

Highland are second in the standings and they are on their travels to Aberdeenshire. The other game in the North Conference sees Ross Sutherland take on Gordonians 2nd XV.

With two games to go until the eight-team league splits into top four and bottom four, winless Garioch are heading to second bottom Biggar in the Women’s Premiership. Currently Garioch have two points and Biggar have five and this could be a real battle at Hartree Mill.

* A version of this article first appeared in The Press and Journal on Friday *

03/10/2025

So far this term Strathmore Rugby Club have won both of their home games since promotion to Arnold Clark National Three and they will be looking for a third Inchmacoble triumph when they host Garnock tomorrow.

The Forfar outfit, last year’s National Four champions, sit sixth in the 10-team standings after four fixture in 2025-26.

They have defeated Orkney and Dumfries Saints on their own patch and lost to Allan Glen’s and Preston Lodge on the road.

After the league took a break last weekend they are ready to start a busy October against winless Garnock who are bottom of the standings.

Centre Connor Slader has been an important part of things so far this term and the 30-year-old said: “Having been promoted at the end of last season, we knew stepping up a league would be a challenge, but winning our home games so far against Orkney and Dumfries has given us good confidence and shown that we can complete in this league.

“The two losses so far have come away from home against two teams who I expect to be near the top of table come end of season as Allan Glen’s finished second in this league last year and Preston Lodge came down from National Two.

“As a result, I would say it’s been a decent start to the season, but we want to kick on now and we are fully focused on Garnock and we expect a physical test.

“This weekend and over the coming weeks we want to keep developing and gelling as a team. We want to continue winning our home games and start picking up wins on the road and just be competitive in every game that we play.”

Slader, who has been playing 12 recently, grew up in Garelochhead in Argyll and Bute and started playing rugby when he was five with Helensburgh before moving to West of Scotland aged 13.

“I started playing with Strathmore in 2019 before leaving to play at Dundee Rugby in 2021, but I came back in 2023 and have been playing here since,” Slader explained.

Strathmore is a great club to be involved with, there’s a good bunch of lads and everyone is pushing each other week in and week out. We have a good mixture of experienced players and young lads and that is helpful in this division.”

As well as the men’s 1st XV playing at Inchmacoble tomorrow, on Sunday the Strathie Clan will be in action at the same venue against teams from Ayrshire, the Borders, Forth Valley Fife and Grampian in an inclusive rugby tournament.

Like National Three, National Two had a week off last weekend, but now Dundee Rugby, Kirkcaldy and Howe of Fife are all back in action.

Fifth placed Dundee are at home to unbeaten Highland with seventh placed Kirkcaldy on their travels to face third placed Newton Stewart and the Howe, in eighth, heading to Glasgow to take on leaders GHK.

Dunfermline are seventh in National Fur and will be looking to build some momentum when they travel to bottom side Stewartry.

Kinross and Perthshire, who are ninth and second respectively, will meet in Caledonia One Midlands Conference action.

Dundee Rugby’s 2nd XV are away to section leaders Grangemouth Stags with Howe Crusaders hosting Blairgowrie and Panmure welcoming Falkirk’s 2nd XV to Forthill.

* A version of this article first appeared in The Courier UK on Friday *

03/10/2025

𝗞𝗻𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸, 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗶𝗻, 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁!

🥇 Wilton Primary School pupil Isla wins three Taekwon-Do golds
⚽ Hawick Legion Afc and Hawick Waverley AFC set to cross swords
🏉 Hawick RFC aim to 'set out stall' at Ayr

And so much more!

Only in your Hawick Paper, out now.

03/10/2025

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀! 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝘄𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗣𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿: 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄. 📰 📣

This week we've got a bumper 3️⃣2️⃣ pages of local news, views and sport for our readers - featuring this year's P1 and Early Years class photos. 📷

Download our app 📱 or get access to the ePaper on our website at http://goo.gl/d9YFC4 💻

🏠 For paper copies, contact Jason on 01450 870407 or email [email protected].

02/10/2025

Seumas Ross says that Highland Rugby Football Club is a “special” rugby club and he is looking forward to the rest of the campaign after the team made a good start to life in Arnold Clark National Two.

The Inverness outfit were relegated from National One last year, but have dusted themselves down to begin 2025-26 with three bonus point wins out of three.

That has left them second in the table to GHK having played a match less and, after a week’s break, games resume this Saturday when the Canal Park men will travel to fifth placed Dundee Rugby who were also relegated last term.

Ross, the 28-year-old inside centre who has played 87 games for the 1st XV over the years, has had a good start to this season personally and he scored tries in the wins over Howe of Fife and Falkirk. Highland’s other win to date was at Berwick.

“I grew up in Burn Brae in Westhill and joined the Culloden Academy school rugby team when I was 13,” Ross said.

“Soon after that I started to play junior rugby with Highland and I’ve been at the club for 15 years now.

“It’s a really special club to be a part of, it’s like a second family to me so every time I pull on the jersey I take great pride in representing Highland.

“It’s been a great start to the season for us, there’s been crucial away victories at Falkirk and Berwick that have really given us momentum and we want to try and build on that now.

“Everyone is feeling food and is hopeful we can challenge for the National Two title and put in a good run in the National League Cup, but we know there is a lot of rugby to be played and we will take things one game at a time.”

The game on the minds of head coach Dave Carson’s men just now is Dundee this weekend at Mayfield.

They won there 43-15 in February, but know it’ll be a tricky road trip and Ross added: “The boys always get up for Dundee away, there is definitely a strong Caledonian rivalry between the clubs.

“The boys know their coaching staff well as lots of us have played under Colin Sangster, Kev Wyness and Junior Bulumakau through Caledonia representative rugby before and Junior was our backs coach at Highland last year.

“We are looking forward to getting back into things ahead of a busy October in the league.”

* A version of this article first appeared in The Press and Journal on Thursday *

30/09/2025

🗣️ "The club is deeply rooted into many players daily lives."

30/09/2025

The Scottish Rugby 14 month Rugby World Cup journey has ended + so has this block of GH Media coverage...

Nearly 350 pieces of content about the national team + the wider women's game appeared on the website in that time

Keep your eyes peeled for what's next + thanks for support

30/09/2025

"The next few months must be full of clarity, communication + strong appointments in key roles if Scottish Rugby are to kick on"...

Post-Rugby World Cup thoughts ahead of a very important spell leading into the Guinness Women's Six Nations after lots of change

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30/09/2025

With the sun setting on a brilliant Women’s Rugby World Cup in England, it’s time to hand out GH Media’s very unofficial awards covering Scottish Rugby's campaign...

This content is brought to you in association with Quirky Chocolate

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30/09/2025

"We want to keep building + with the infrastructure that is in place + the passion people have for the club we can certainly do that"...

Via Scotland Rugby News, hear all about Strathendrick RFC as this thriving community club marks its 50th anniversary

Some people dread the thought of turning 50, but that clearly does not ring true for rugby clubs and especially Strathendrick who recently hit the…

26/09/2025

Fifer Lliam Quarm says that WP Nel’s attention to detail is second to none and that it has been “great” to learn from the former Scottish Rugby rugby cap at Stirling County RFC in recent months.

With most other leagues across the country taking a break this weekend, Arnold Clark National One will take centre stage tomorrow and third placed County are heading up to winless Gordonians.

The teams have not been confirmed yet, but loosehead prop Quarm, who recently turned 30, and Nel, the 39-year-old tighthead prop who earned 61 Scotland caps between 2015 and 2023, may well be involved for the visitors at Countesswells.

Quarm came through the ranks with Dunfermline Rugby Football Club from the age of eight right through to 24 and played around 140 games for the senior first team there. He then had spells with Dundee Rugby and Biggar before playing for Stirling Wolves in their successful part-time professional Super6/Series era and is still at Bridgehaugh now with County as they aim to earn promotion to the Premiership.

South African-born Nel joined Edinburgh Rugby in 2012 and, after qualifying for Scotland via residency, went on to become a very important player for the national team. After retiring from pro rugby he returned to South Africa for a spell, but is now back here and is a player/assistant coach with Stirling.

For a front-rower like Quarm to be able to work with and play alongside someone of the calibre of Nel is a big boost and the former said: “WP Nel has been great, his attention to detail has given everyone in the squad, particularly the front-rowers, a strong foundation to work from.

“He really knows the little details when it comes to forwards work and, along with fellow forwards coach Lewis Skinner, they are doing an excellent job and I am enjoying working with them. As well as being a good coach, on the pitch WP still leads from the front, doesn't take a step backwards and never stops moving and that is helping the team out.

“The season so far in general has been a good challenge so far with last week being a real test of where we are as a squad when we drew 30-30 at Edinburgh Accies after three previous wins.

“Every point counts in our league as shown last season when we just missed out on top spot and promotion to GHA, so whilst we were disappointed with a draw at Accies, the bigger picture is that we're on track. Personally, I'm still working my way back from knee surgery in June so it's been a big challenge to get fit for the season, but it is good to be getting minutes again now.

“Looking ahead to tomorrow, Gordonians got promoted from National Two last season for a reason, and it's one of the longer away trips we have to make which is a challenge in itself.

“They've improved week on week since coming up despite not having got the results yet and we'll need to be at our best as a whole squad to get the most out of this game.”

* A version of this article first appeared in The Courier UK on Friday *

📸 Bryan Robertson Photography