Scottish Rugby

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Craig Chalmers paid tribute to his friend and former Scotland teammate Scott Hastings, who died on Sunday, aged 61.

The pair played together during Scotland's Grand Slam win in 1990 and Chalmers says he has spoken to people around the world paying their respects.

"It's very sad news," he told BBC Scotland. "Scott was a rugby hero to many - an icon in the game, not just in Scotland.

"He wasn't just a great player, he was a great friend. He was so positive about everything. He would light up a room.

"He would do anything for anybody. He made me feel so welcome when I came into the Scotland team. He was a great person, but a fun person as well."

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We asked for your memories of the great Scott Hastings, who died on Sunday aged 61.

Scott: I worked briefly with Scott in the mid-80s, with offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh. We were only four years apart in age. Already a 'celebrity' rugby player before there was such a thing, I had the pleasure of Scott's company when he gave me a lift back to Edinburgh from Glasgow, where I was working, in his car. All I can remember was his relaxed nature and that the journey was full of laughs and stories. I wish I remembered more. Years later my parents sold our house to Gavin Hastings. RIP Scott. Our thoughts are with you and your family.

Gary: Very sad news. Great player. Great man. Thoughts with his children at this tough time.

Dennis: Terribly sad news. His partnership with Sean Lineen in the Scottish midfield was every bit as good as Huwipuloto. A great player and an even greater man.

Hector: Scott Hastings was an absolute hero growing up. I could not believe it when I heard this news and had no idea he was so ill. As many have said, despite the personal anguish he must have experienced with his late wife Jenny, he was always remarkably positive and enthusiastic about life and about rugby. His passion and completely non-biased, fair views were really refreshing in this day and age. He was part of perhaps the last 'golden' era of Scottish Rugby greats who's feats will be indelibly inked in folklore forever. A huge loss for the game of rugby.

Bruce: So sad to see another Scottish legend pass away. Iconic moment for me was the second-half try-saving tackle on Rory Underwood in the 1990 Grand Slam game - I remember it if it was yesterday. A true gentleman of the game. RIP.

Graham: His try against England in 1986. I was on a survey vessel off Mumbai when we eventually received a three day old Daily Record… we couldn't believe the score. Later I saw the highlights and remember the great Bill McLarens commentary: 'oh look at the joy on his face!' A great player and a force off the field as well. Sleep well laddie.

One of Scotland's best and most loved rugby union players, Scott Hastings, has died at age 61.

Hastings, alongside his brother Gavin, was part of the last Scotland side to win a Grand Slam when they triumphed in the 1990 Five Nations.

After ending his rugby career in 1999, Hastings became a well known rugby broadcaster, both as a commentator and pundit.

What are your favourite memories of Scott, both on the pitch and off it? Let us know here.

Ireland finished their Six Nations campaign in style with a dominant victory over Scotland in front of a record attendance at the Aviva Stadium.

Read the full match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Scotland head coach Sione Fukofuka: "Firstly, congratulations to Scott, Erin and the Irish team. They've been building for a few years and clearly played a really successful campaign, with three home wins.

"We're really frustrated that we didn't go out and execute the way we wanted to. I'm really proud of the fightback second half, showed what our potential is. But we've got to be better at starting games and giving ourselves opportunities to be in the game.

"I don't think it was the occasion. It was a bit of a learning. We've got senior players not here, but what we did in the second half was show that regardless, we are a good team that can play.

"A big focus has to be on how we prepare during the week and how we start in first halves. The character is there, you can see that. The fight is there, but going forward we need to look at how we play at the beginning.

Scotland captain Helen Nelson told the BBC: "Playing away to Ireland is always a tough gig. There's no shying away from the fact it's been a tough campaign for us. From the injuries we've had, from the new squad, we've got a lot of new faces in.

"To be honest, we are very frustrated with that first half. We showed second half a little bit more of what we're about. There are positives to take moving forward, but a frustrating day for us.

"We were aware we were losing the kicking battle, so we had to keep the ball in hand. We just had to try and build some possession because we hadn't touched the ball first half.

"I said in the circle to the younger players that these are experiences we learn a lot from, and we'll use in the future. There's no shying away from the fact that it has been a frustrating campaign for us.

"As a senior player, going through the rebuild after the highs of the World Cup, it's been a tough one to take."

Rugby fans, we asked for your opinions on Glasgow Warriors narrowly beat Ulster and Edinburgh lost to Connacht in the final regular season URC games.

GLASGOW

Graeme: Glasgow got out of jail in Belfast so hopefully it's a home venues route to the final. But Belfast for the final, really? Why not just take it to Dublin? The consequences of a non-Scottish venue must surely be for heads to roll at the SRU. Incompetence doesn't even begin to cover it!

Chris: Five points needed, five points gained. Have to point out some brilliant performances from the younger players - Euan Ferrie was phenomenal, Maccenzie Duncan was brilliant, and Alex Samuel is going to be starting for Scotland before long.

Stuart: Warriors did well to beat a determined Ulster. Two very loose passes gave advantage and belief to the men in white, but the Warriors stuck to task. Josh McKay was unlucky to be binned, but that 'clothes line' tackle on Kyle Rowe when he scored should have been a red card and penalty try. Handling errors caused issues that need to be sorted before quarter-final. Dan Lancaster, no more long passes please.

EDINBURGH

Steve: Edinburgh's early domination was as good as I've seem from them this season, but sadly not rewarded as Connacht were allowed to infringe far too often in these pressure areas without any warning for their persistence. I am talking about potentially try-saving infringements, for which the defending side will be happy to give away a penalty until the ref says enough. Who knows if it would have changed the result, but I've seen more sanction given for less infringement.

Robert: I have renewed my season ticket, but I am already beginning to wonder why. No reason to think we will be in a different place this time next year. Terrible waste of a talented squad.

TCA: Ahh, classic Edinburgh. Just when there were glimmers of hope we revert to type. For Sean Everrit to come out and blame the first four games of the season is ludicrous and suggests he's as clueless as the rest of us when trying to figure out why this star-studded team stumbles time after time.

Dave: I thought Sean Everitt was on the spot with his assessment. The Edinburgh attack was blunt and played too much behind the gain line with very little disguise in their play.

It was quite frustrating to watch Edinburgh get picked off by Ulster. Given Everitt's comments, I take it they are not coached to play that way and it was an on pitch issue. They need to fix this during the summer. We have seen Piers O'Conor in several positions in the back line this year, he does not look comfortable in any at this level.

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Glasgow Warriors' United Rugby Championship play-off quarter-final with Connacht will take place on Friday, 29 May with a 19:45 BST start.

Franco Smith's Warriors sealed top spot in the URC table after defeating Ulster away on Friday evening, when Connacht beat hosts Edinburgh. After Saturday's results, Connacht finished eighth in the standings.

The three other quarter-finals will take place on Saturday, 30 May with Bulls at home to Munster at lunchtime, Cardiff visiting Stormers in the afternoon and Leinster welcoming Lions in the evening.

The semi-finals are both scheduled for 6 June, with the final set for 20 June.

Connacht won their last meeting with Glasgow in Galway, triumphing 15-10.

This month's play-off tie at will be the sides' first meeting at Scotstoun since early 2025.

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Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt spoke to BBC Scotland after his side's 26-5 home URC defeat by Connacht.

"It is disappointing because we did so many good things in the game to get field position," Everitt said. "We got the entries that we needed to be able to get a result.

"We got 18 possessions and 14 entries, so we've got to be better with ball in hand. You've got to give credit to Connacht for the way they defended and they were desperate tonight. But yeah, really disappointed that we couldn't get over the line and get a win tonight.

"The attack let us down this season, I believe. Last year we were good with ball in hand. It's going to take a squad of 45 to be able to do well in this competition. And we're not there yet as far as depth is concerned.

"There's multiple reasons why we haven't got there [in the top eight]. I thought in the first block, we probably let a few games slip there by losing by one or two points. And I think that cost us dearly, those first four weeks.

"If you get three of those wins in the first block, it makes it a hell of a lot easier at the end. And we've got to be better when we go to South Africa and come away with points."

Edinburgh suffered another disappointing URC defeat as their season ended with a whimper against Connacht, while Glasgow secured their place at the top of the standings with a narrow win away to Ulster.

Have your say on the respective matches.

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Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith tells Premier Sports: "It's a tough season to stay on top. A massive achievement for my players and the club. It was arguably the toughest competition this year that we've ever been part of.

"It's not easy to go to South Africa and get points there but I'm pleased we were able to bounce back.

"We wanted five points tonight - that was the mission. There are some boys coming back. I don't know what the [injury] outcome is from tonight, but we've got 10 days to prep well.

"The boys worked hard this year. They got stuck in, compliments to the coaching group and the players.

"I cannot talk about something I don't have. [Affidea Stadium] is a nice place for a final to be played.

"It's a different game, a play-off. We know it's different from the round-robin games. It's drawing a line under the season."

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Hamish Watson and Charlie Shiel are among nine players leaving Edinburgh at the end of the season.

Watson, who has made 181 appearances, is currently on a short-term loan with Leicester, while scrum-half Shiel has played 93 times.

Some of the other departing players, such as Lions-bound Boan Venter, had previously confirmed their exits.

Completing the list of departures are James Lang, Ben Healy, Sam Skinner, Angus Williams, Ross McCann and Mikey Jones.

"Every one of them has given their all for the jersey, and I want to express my sincere gratitude for the commitment and passion they've shown for Edinburgh," said head coach Sean Everitt.

"We wish them nothing but the very best in the next stage of their careers.

"We obviously want to give a special mention to Hamish Watson – an all-time Edinburgh legend and one of the finest players ever to represent this club.

"We hope he gets back to full fitness soon and has every opportunity to challenge for silverware with Leicester Tigers at the end of the season. He deserves that."

Venter and Shiel could make farewell appearances off the bench when Edinburgh host Dragons on Friday in their final URC fixture of the season.

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Scotland lock Gregor Brown is among three changes for the trip to face Ulster on Friday night as Glasgow Warriors bid to secure top spot in the URC.

Brown will make his first outing since Scotland's final match of the Six Nations against Ireland two months ago.

Nathan McBeth comes into the front row to join Johnny Matthews and Zander Fagerson.

And Macenzzie Duncan is drafted into the back-row, with no place in the squad for Jack Dempsey in Glasgow's final regular-season match.

Warriors are a point clear of Stormers and a bonus-point win at Ulster will secure top spot - and with it top seeding and home advantage in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.

Head coach Franco Smith said: "Ulster are a quality team who will be desperate to make it into the play-offs andcontinue their run of form ahead of the Challenge Cup final next week.

"We are pleased to welcome Gregor back. He has worked hard with our medical and strength and conditioning teams to put himself in the best position possible, and he is eager to get back onto the field."

Glasgow Warriors: McBeth, Matthews, Z Fagerson, Brown, Samuel, Miller, M Fagerson, Duncan; Horne, Lancaster, Rowe, Tuipulotu, McDowall, Steyn, McKay.

Replacements: Hiddleston, Sutherland, Talakai, Oguntibeju, Ferry, Vailanu, Afshar, Smith.

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Edinburgh captain Magnus Bradbury returns to the side for their final URC match of the season against Connacht on Friday night.

Bradbury replaces Tom Currie as Sean Everitt makes four changes from the bonus-point win at Dragons last week.

Marshall Sykes comes into the second row for Grant Gilchrist, who is ruled out with a finger injury.

Tom Dodd slots in at blindside flanker, with Glen Young moving into the second row alongside Sykes, while Piers O'Conor takes over from Mosese Tuipulotu at outside centre.

"The competition for places in this squad has been fierce and I've loved seeing that fight for the jersey throughout this last block of games," head coach Everitt said.

"Three wins on the bounce has taken real character and real commitment – and what's driven that, I think, is how much these players care. They care for each other, they care for this city and they care deeply about our supporters.

"To have the opportunity to make it four wins in a row, in front of our own fans, in a fixture that means so much to the club off the pitch as well as on it – that's a brilliant way to close out our season.

"We want to send our supporters away with something to smile about."

Edinburgh: Paterson, Graham, O'Conor, Thomson, Van der Merwe, Thompson, Patterson; Schoeman, Ashman, O Blyth-Lafferty, Sykes, Young, Dodd, Douglas, Bradbury.

Replacements: J Blyth-Lafferty, Venter, Hunter-Hill, McVie, Currie, Shiel, Brown.

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Callum Hunter-Hill has become the latest Edinburgh lock to extend his contract.

The 29-year-old is now committed to the club until the summer of 2027-28 after signing a new one-year deal.

Hunter-Hill rejoined Edinburgh from Northampton Saints on a two-year contract last summer and has made 15 appearances for Sean Everitt's side the term.

"Coming back to Edinburgh has meant everything to me," he said.

"This club has always felt like home. I've really enjoyed the game-time this season and feel like I'm building nicely, but I'll be honest, I know I haven't hit the heights I'm capable of yet.

"That's a big part of why I wanted to stay. I feel like I've got a real contribution to make here, and I'm not done. The direction this club is moving in genuinely excites me."

Hunter-Hill joins fellow second-rowers Grant Gilchrist, Glen Young and Marshall Sykes in signing fresh terms.

Tom English and Andy Burke chat with Glasgow Warriors' Johnny Matthews, who is leaving the club for French side Montauban, round up a good weekend for Glasgow and Edinburgh in the URC and preview Ireland v Scotland in the Women's Six Nations.

Listen and subscribe to the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast on BBC Sounds.

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Scotland lock Glen Young is ready to build on "one of my best seasons" for Edinburgh after signing a one-year contract extension.

The 31-year-old, who joined the club five years ago, has made 19 appearances this term and joins fellow Scotland locks Marshall Sykes and Grant Gilchrist in committing his future.

"This has been one of my best seasons in an Edinburgh jersey and I genuinely feel like there's more to come," said Young. "I feel fit, I feel confident, and I want to keep building on that.

"One of the things I really value is being one of the more experienced guys in the squad. I take that seriously – if I can help the younger players develop and make the whole group better, then I see that as a big part of what I'm here to do.

"I can play across the second row and into the back row, and I think my versatility is something that gives the coaches options. I'm a team-first person – whatever the squad needs from me, I'll give it."

Head coach Sean Everitt hailed Young as "the type of player who makes your squad better – not just through what he does on the pitch, but through the standards he sets every day in training".

Sandy Smith
Fan writer

I think we played our get out of jail free card on Saturday night.

Everything about this game had two sides to it. We bossed the first half in terms of possession and territory but by the 43rd minute we were behind again.

We were down to 14 men for 20 minutes of the second half but our discipline was good overall, only conceding seven penalties throughout the game.

Duhan van Der Merwe carried the ball four times in the entire match yet scored two tries. Our lineouts were horrible but Ewan Ashman still got man of the match.

I think we got lucky with a few decisions but our defence was good and we deserved that fortune for the effort.

It was a frustrating watch but we won and this can now officially be called a winning streak.

Truth be told it wasn't just frustrating, it was uncomfortable viewing. Scrum time seemed to drag on and it felt inevitable the referee was going to lose patience with Edinburgh's slow lineout set-up.

Only Van der Merwe's superb 75th-minute try that was a reminder of what he can bring to the table eased that, er, uneasiness.

The winger can be pretty pleased with his return to the starting XV, as can Harry Paterson who played a big part in the game. He made the most carries, all of which were aggressive, was secure under the high ball and having his right foot to complement Ross Thompson's left was a bonus.

Defensively there were some standouts and huge hits. Our top tackler on the night was Grant Gilchrist but it's perhaps a sign of how hard the team had to work in the second half that Paul Hill, Liam McConnell, Magnus Bradbury and Boan Venter were all on double figures despite only coming on with around 30 minutes to go.

One game to play. Connacht at the Hive. I expect a big turnout to see out the season and to say cheerio to some players including stalwarts like James Lang and our very own springbok, Venter.

Attendees may also see us hopefully complete our season with a four-game run. A win would mean we have beaten every team in the bottom half of the table.

We've had the get out of jail free card. Would that win be the joker?

Sandy Smith can be found at The Burgh Watch, external