The Offside Line Podcast: The First for Scottish Rugby

Some huge games on the menu this weekend with Heriots' trip to the Greenyards to take on Melrose in a clash of two of the form teams in the league perhaps match of the day, although the basement battle between Edinburgh Accies and Glasgow Hawks could also be a gripping encounter. Barney, Stuart and Robin get together to look ahead at another exciting weekend of action in the top flight of men's club rugby in Scotland, and they also hear from Stirling County head coach Bob Mckillop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Burnsy is on a mini-tour of the UK this week but has found the time to catch up with Barney to digest last weekend's Arnold Clark Premiership action and to discuss the importance of Murrayfield showing a bit more love and respect for this top tier of the club game in Scotland as it needs to be an essential step in the performance pathway for the long term health of the game. The boys are also joined by Stuart Bathgate to catch-up on Scotland's WXV campaign, which kicked off with a heavy defeat to Canada at Hive Stadium on Saturday. Dave Butcher's side appear to be low on confidence but is there light at the end of the tunnel? This podcast is sponsored by Kudos Sports Services. Kudos Sports Services supports grassroots and community sports clubs with the work that happens off the pitch. From funding applications and sponsorship to club development, governance and project planning, Kudos helps clubs turn ideas into practical, fundable projects. If your club needs support to become more sustainable or develop its next project, visit kudossportsservices.com or follow Kudos Sports Services on LinkedIn. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Unbeaten sides Currie Chieftains and Melrose meet at Malleny, Hawick head into the lions den to face Ayr at Millbrae, Kelso are missing their two co-captains for a tough trip to Goldenacre to take on Heriot's, GHA and Edinburgh Accies each hunt their first win of the season at Braidholm and the guys anticipate a tight clash at Balgray when Glasgow Hawks host Watsonians. Meanwhile, National One is shaping up a real battle, with every team capable of beating any other side in the league ... apart from Stirling County, maybe? And there's a top of the Arnold Clark Women's Premiership table clash at Bridgehaugh with Stirling County hosting Watsonians, and both teams coming off big wins last weekend. This week we’re sponsored by Sterling Sinclair Group. As the undisputed masters of the Scottish self-storage and removals industry, the Sterling Sinclair Group delivers a complete one-stop shop experience across the nation. Through their strategic facilities – Perth Self Store, Edinburgh Self Store, and Stirling Self Storage – they provide secure, flexible space for every need. This expertise is seamlessly supported by Sterling Sinclair's premier fleet of 19 specialist vehicles, ensuring professional packing, removal, and shipping services. Furthermore, their Hiab Container Scotland division completes their comprehensive service by expertly selling and moving shipping containers throughout Scotland. Find all the details at sterlingsinclairremovals.co.uk which includes their storage options. https://www.sterlingsinclairremovals.co.uk https://www.hiabcontainerscotland.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Barney and Burnsy are joined by Eric Jones to discuss all the latest in the men and women’s Premierships, which included some major blow-outs on the scoreboard. They also examine Edinburgh and Glasgow’s pre-season games and preview a daunting WXV campaign awaiting Scotland. This week we’re sponsored by Sterling Sinclair Group. As the undisputed masters of the Scottish self-storage and removals industry, the Sterling Sinclair Group delivers a complete one-stop shop experience across the nation. Through their strategic facilities – Perth Self Store, Edinburgh Self Store, and Stirling Self Storage – they provide secure, flexible space for every need. This expertise is seamlessly supported by Sterling Sinclair's premier fleet of 19 specialist vehicles, ensuring professional packing, removal, and shipping services. Furthermore, their Hiab Container Scotland division completes their comprehensive service by expertly selling and moving shipping containers throughout Scotland. Find all the details at sterlingsinclairremovals.co.uk which includes their storage options. https://www.sterlingsinclairremovals.co.uk https://www.hiabcontainerscotland.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Barney, Stuart Cameron and Robin Purdie reconvene to digest the first round of Arnold Clark Men's Premiership action last weekend, and to look ahead to round two, with match of the day likely to be Currie Chieftains and Heriot's at Malleny Park, with both sides coming off big wins last time out and keen to press their credentials as the side who can break Ayr dominance of the league in recent seasons. There's also a humdinger of a clash on the cards at Mansfield Park where Hawick will look to bounce back from their opening round walloping at Goldenacre to extend their impressive winning steak at home against Kelso into a 40th year. This episode is supported by PhiiT Limited and their app, PitchsidePal. If you've ever played club rugby, you'll know the drill – the coach is texting players at midnight about who's available, players are waiting to find out if they're cleared to play, and someone's injury notes are on a piece of paper that's about to go through the wash. Sara Marshall has been there as a physio – at Edinburgh Uni, Watsonians and Lasswade – and she built PitchsidePal to sort it out. It's a single platform for physios, coaches, and players to manage injuries, clinic bookings, return-to-play dates, and communications, all in one place, designed specifically for the amateur game. If your club needs to get organised book a meeting or demo with Sara now through phiit.org.uk . Act now to use code PRESEASON26 for 5% off your first year's subscription before 30th September. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello Offside Liners and welcome to season 3! Barney and Burnsy get back on the horse after a restful summer and are fired up and ready to go. This week they discuss the first round of the Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership and chat with Eric Jones ahead of the opening round of the Arnold Clark Women’s Premiership this weekend. This episode is supported by PhiiT Limited and their app, PitchsidePal. If you've ever played club rugby, you'll know the drill – the coach is texting players at midnight about who's available, players are waiting to find out if they're cleared to play, and someone's injury notes are on a piece of paper that's about to go through the wash. Sara Marshall has been there as a physio – at Edinburgh Uni, Watsonians and Lasswade – and she built PitchsidePal to sort it out. It's a single platform for physios, coaches, and players to manage injuries, clinic bookings, return-to-play dates, and communications, all in one place, designed specifically for the amateur game. If your club needs to get organised book a meeting or demo with Sara now through phiit.org.uk . Act now to use code PRESEASON26 for 5% off your first year's subscription before 30th September. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a fresh club season dawns, The Offside Line has launched its new weekly ‘Clubhouse’ podcast, landing every Thursday to digest the latest goings-on in the club game and look ahead to the weekend. This week, Barney, Stuart Cameron and Robin Purdie get together for a whistle-stop tour of the comings and goings in the Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership ahead of round one of the 2026/27 campaign on Saturday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the final episode of season two! We delve into the U20s fifth-place play-off game with Wales, Scotland vs Fiji and a general examination of the Nations Championship. We hope you enjoy - and have a great summer! Advertise on The Offside Line Podcast Scotland's leading independent weekly rugby podcast covering the game from international to grassroots, every week of the season. Podcast advertising and sponsorship is now open for the 2026/27 season. We offer two partnership tiers to suit different budgets and objectives, with episode packages from 4 to 12 episodes. This season also sees the launch of a brand-new Thursday show - a weekly domestic club rugby preview, exclusively for The Offside Line subscribers. To find out more or request our podcast media pack, contact Elaine: elaine@theoffsideline.com | 07985 395764 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello Offside Liners and welcome to this week’s show as we look back on Scotland’s narrow loss to South Africa in Pretoria on Saturday and preview next weekend’s game against Fiji at Murrayfield, and we’ll also be delving into the U20s match against Argentina in the Junior World Cup. This episode is brought to you by PhiiT Limited and their app, PitchsidePal. If you've ever played club rugby, you'll know the drill - the physio is texting coaches at midnight about who's available, players are waiting to find out if they're cleared, and someone's injury notes are on a piece of paper that's about to go through the wash. Sara Marshall has been that physio – at Edinburgh Uni, Watsonians and Lasswade – and she built PitchsidePal to sort it out. It's a single platform for physios, coaches and players to manage injuries, clinic bookings, return-to-play dates and communications, all in one place, designed specifically for the amateur game. If your club needs to get organised, there's a preseason offer on right now – use code PRESEASON26 for 5% off your first year's subscription before 31st August. Visit phiit.org.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello Offside Liners and welcome to this week’s show as we look back on Scotland’s record-breaking victory over Argentina in the first round of the inaugural Nations Cup and look forward to their match with the Springboks this weekend. We’ll also be delving into the Scotland U20s campaign at the Junior World Cup and chatting to Roddie Deans, the former director of rugby at Merchiston Castle School and now Scottish Rugby’s Pathway and Coach Development Manager for the Border and East Lothian. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello Offside Liners and welcome to this week’s show as we round up the 2025/26 season and we welcome our old muckers Craig Watson and Mark Palmer back to the pod. Barney came up with six talking points and the guys go to town discussing their: - highlight of the season - low point of the season - hero of the season - villain of the season - what lessons have been learned this season - and what they’re most looking forward to next season Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello Offside Liners and welcome to this week’s show. Barney and Burnsy pick themselves off the floor after the disappointing end to Glasgow’s URC season and delve into the semi-final performance before looking ahead to Scotland’s upcoming Nations Championship campaign. How about a full year of the Offside Line for the rugby fans in your life? Buy this for Father's day and the voucher arrives within 24 hours. The recipient activates it any time before 31 August so they can choose whether they want to get stuck into Scotland's Nations championship games and follow the Scotland U20s on the World stage at the Junior World Championships or hold off until the Premiership & Pro teams are back in action from August. A full 12 months whenever they're ready for £50 (includes 2 months for free). Gift a subscription – A Year of The Offside Line - Rugby News from The Offside Line RUGBY BOOKS ~48 HOUR DELIVERY There's also a great selection of rugby books available in our shop, including Behind the Thistle, The Grudge, This Is Your Everest, When Lions Roared and most recently, This is Murrayfield. Expect around a 48-hour delivery - order by Wednesday 17th June. The Offside Line Rugby Gift and Merch Shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Barney and Burnsy reflect on Glasgow's quarter-final victory over Connacht at Scotstoun – which puts them into a semi-final with the Bulls at Murrayfield – and the final round of the Kings of the 7s at Raeburn Place. This episode of The Offside Line is brought to you by Arnold Clark - proud sponsor of the Scotland Men’s national team and a brand that supports Scottish rugby at every level, from grassroots clubs right through to the international stage. If you’re in the market for a car, this June, Arnold Clark are giving one customer a week the chance to win the cost of their car back. Plus, their Upgrade Event is now on. Get two years free servicing when you buy a used car, or buy a fully electric used car and get a discounted home charger from £549. Upgrade and save today at www.ArnoldClark.com Offer runs to Tuesday 30th June 2026 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello Offside Liners and welcome to this week’s show. Scotland in Sevens Heaven! With Burnsy off on holiday, we’ve got a special episode this week with Barney catching up with some of the key players in Scotland’s famous 2016 HSBC World Sevens Series final tournament win over England at Twickenham, which happened 10 years ago this Friday. Thanks to coach Kitty MacRae, skipper Scott Wight, Mark Robertson, James Johnstone and James Fleming for providing their memories of a rare Scottish rugby fairytale story. This episode is brought to you by the Howden Melrose Sevens - one of the highlights of the Scottish rugby calendar and our sponsors of The Offside Line podcast this week. And we've got something special for the community - subscribers and registered users can get 10% off tickets for this year's event on Saturday the 23rd of May at the iconic Greenyards. The discount applies across all ticket options: ground, stand, enclosure, and the Doddie Club, which is the premium hospitality experience on site. Worth a special mention on the Doddie Club, £10 from every ticket sold goes directly to the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, so you're getting a brilliant day out and supporting a cause that means so much to this community. Head to tickets.melroserugby.org and use the code OFFSIDELINE2026 at checkout to claim your 10% off Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello Offside Liners and welcome to this week’s show. Barney and Burnsy review their exclusive interview with Sean Everitt from last week before diving into the latest action in the URC, the Women’s Six Nations and the Kings of the Sevens. As mentioned in the show, tickets for the Edinburgh leg of the Kings of the Sevens are on sale now. The tournament is being held in conjunction with the NeighbourGood Market so it’s going to be a fantastic event with amazing food and drinks and live music. There are two types of tickets available to spectators. The first is a Ground Ticket, which gives you; entry to the Edinburgh Sevens and all the facilities and entertainment provided by the NeighbourGood Market on the day of the event. Prices for Ground tickets will be £15 or £10 for pensioners and youngsters. Full details of how to purchase these will be given in a few days, though you will be able to pay on the day if you prefer. The second is a Premium Ticket. Premium Tickets, which cost £40 each, must be purchased ahead of the tournament and availability is limited. A Premium Ticket will give you the benefits of a Ground Ticket, plus: entrance to the Edinburgh Accies clubhouse throughout the day, a meal in the clubhouse at a time of your choosing between 2 and 4pm, one complimentary drink from the clubhouse bar and access to view the rugby from the clubhouse balcony. You can buy your Premium Tickets now by clicking THIS LINK . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello Offside Liners and welcome to this week’s show. Barney and Burnsy sit down for an exclusive chat with Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt. This is an episode you do not want to miss. This episode is brought to you by Breadalbane Finance – our partners here at The Offside Line and proud sponsors of our Community Club of the Month. Breadalbane are a commercial finance broker based in Edinburgh, and they work with business owners across Scotland and the UK to find the right funding for their needs - whether that's asset finance, business loans, property finance, invoice finance, or refinancing. Basically, if your business needs funding, they can help find the best option for you - with expert, independent advice, quick decisions, and minimal paperwork. Head to breadalbanefinance.co.uk to get in touch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello Offside Liners and welcome to this week’s show. Barney and Burnsy take a look back at all the action from Silver Saturday, the Kings of the 7s, the URC and the Women’s Six Nations, plus they take a surprise deep dive into university rugby. As mentioned, tickets for the Edinburgh leg of the Kings of the Sevens are on sale now. The tournament is being held in conjunction with the NeighbourGood Market so it’s going to be a fantastic event with amazing food and drinks and live music. There are two types of tickets available to spectators. The first is a Ground Ticket, which gives you; entry to the Edinburgh Sevens and all the facilities and entertainment provided by the NeighbourGood Market on the day of the event. Prices for Ground tickets will be £15 or £10 for pensioners and youngsters. Full details of how to purchase these will be given in a few days, though you will be able to pay on the day if you prefer. The second is a Premium Ticket. Premium Tickets, which cost £40 each, must be purchased ahead of the tournament and availability is limited. A Premium Ticket will give you the benefits of a Ground Ticket, plus: entrance to the Edinburgh Accies clubhouse throughout the day, a meal in the clubhouse at a time of your choosing between 2 and 4pm, one complimentary drink from the clubhouse bar and access to view the rugby from the clubhouse balcony. You can buy your Premium Tickets now by clicking THIS LINK . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello Offside Liners and welcome to this week’s show. Barney and Burnsy clutch at some straws to dredge some positives from the weekend (well done, Edinburgh – both on and off the field) but then they have to delve into the disappointing performances from Scotland Women in the Six Nations and Glasgow in the URC. Still, there are lots of laughs along the way . . . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello Offside Liners and welcome to this week’s show. Burnsy has to drag himself off the floor to dive into Glasgow’s no-show against Toulon in the Champions Cup quarter-final, but in happier sections of the show, he and Barney examine Scotland’s victory over Wales in the Women’s Six Nations, saunter through the Scottish Cup semi-finals and look at Edinburgh's new back-room appointment. Come and see us live! We’re at the Greenyards in Melrose on Friday night (17 April) with special guests Scott Wright, James Flemming and Lisa Thompson. The bar will be open both throughout the podcast and after, allowing guests to relax and enjoy the occasion. Get your tickets here The Offside Line Podcast — Melrose Rugby Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello Offside Liners and welcome to this week’s show. Barney and Burnsy dive into the last 16 round of the Champions Cup as Glasgow triumph over the Bulls and Edinburgh make a show of it in Dublin against Leinster – but are still left asking: what now for the capital team? They also cast an eye over the men and women’s Six Nations U18 festivals, and preview the opening round of the Women’s Six Nations, the Scottish Cup semi-finals and Glasgow’s quarter-final against Toulon. Tickets are now live for our first Podcast on the Road Event - Live from the Greenyards! Free to attend and open to all, the evening promises engaging rugby discussion, insight, and entertainment, with James Flemming and another special guest joining the podcast for what is sure to be an enjoyable and informative event for rugby sevens fans. A bar will be open both throughout the podcast and after, allowing guests to relax and enjoy the occasion. Get your tickets here The Offside Line Podcast — Melrose Rugby Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.