Rugby Union

Most of us would, I hope, hate the thought of the Six Nations being regarded as preparation for a World Cup rather than as the great tournament it is, but the Southern Hemisphere’s Rugby Championship has neither the history nor the allure of the Six Nations, and there’s no doubt that all four countries – New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Argentina – see the truncated Championship which kicks off today as, principally, an opportunity for preparation and experiment. There’s more reason to regard it as such because it is of course that much nearer to the World Cup than the Six Nations was.

Glasgow Warriors have signed the Fijian forward Jale Vakaloloma on a two-year deal, subject to visa and medical.

Uncapped winger Sevu Reece has been named in the New Zealand side to face Argentina in the Rugby Championship in Buenos Aires tomorrow, a selection likely to spark controversy.

Edinburgh Rugby have discovered their fixtures for the 2019/20 Pro14 season.

The possible back-row permutations for Scotland’s World Cup campaign are already causing much head-scratching amongst supporters on social media forums and in clubhouse debates up and down the country, as they try to second-guess the make-up of Gregor Townsend’s squad.

Hutchinson’s on a meteoric trajectory as a stunning six months in England’s top flight sees him looking to secure a place on Gregor Townsend’s plane to Japan, writes Duncan Smith

It is the time of year when most of the news is about things off the field. Yesterday one learned that John Jeffrey has just been appointed chairman of the Six Nations Committee,on which he has served for a number of years, as indeed on World Rugby and the SRU itself also. JJ has come a long way into the ranks of the Great and Good since, along with his mate Finlay Calder, he was described as a “scavenger” by England’s coach, Geoff Cooke. A long way also from that night when he and England’s mighty No 8 Dean Richards indulged in some passing practice up and down North Bridge with the Calcutta Cup instead of a rugby ball. I don’t really know what the remit and powers of the chair of the Six Nations Committee may be, but I trust that JJ will greet proposals for change with a healthy Borders scepticism, offering our characteristic defence of the status quo: “it’s aye been”.

Scotland Grand Slam hero John Jeffrey has been elected chairman of the Six Nations Council for a three-year term.

Grand Slam hero Craig Chalmers says he is “heartbroken” at seeing his beloved Greenyards pitch in Melrose ripped up to make way for a new 3G surface.

It may be Wimbledon fortnight and the return of Andy Murray, in doubles anyway, but with the Scotland squad training hard in Portugal, the Rugby World Cup no longer seems far away.

My son Harris is an energetic boy and, for a while, we struggled to find “his thing” to expend it. We’ve tried gymnastics, Brazilian football, climbing, scooting, and many other activities, but none clicked, writes Hayley Matthews.

Scotland centre Duncan Taylor has said “desperation is the word” as he looks to put a luckless few years behind him and make this year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan.

The Heriot’s Super 6 franchise is hunting for a new head coach after Ciaran Beattie quit to take the Scotland Sevens post.

Doddie Weir was yesterday presented with an OBE for services to rugby, motor neurone disease research and the Borders community. The former Scottish rugby star has become a national hero through his response to developing the incurable disease.

Three decades ago yesterday the British and Irish Lions began a Test series in which a third of the team were Scots.