Send in your Scottish rugby questionspublished at 21:54 BST 29 September 2025
21:54 BST 29 September 2025
It was an eventful opening weekend in the URC as Glasgow beat Sharks at Scotstoun while Edinburgh suffered a last-gasp defeat at Zebre.
Whether it's looking back on those two matches, or anything else Scottish rugby related, our reporters Tom English and Andy Burke are ready to answer your questions.
Send them in via this link and a selection of answers will be published on this page later in the week.
Smith pleased Glasgow get URC points on the board earlypublished at 20:20 BST 29 September 2025
20:20 BST 29 September 2025
Andy Burke BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNS
Franco Smith was pleased Glasgow Warriors came through "a strange game" against the Sharks to deliver maximum points in their United Rugby Championship opener.
Warriors eventually pulled away from the South African side in a stuffy affair to win 35-19 on Friday.
Smith says while nothing is won and lost on the opening weekend, Glasgow learned from last season the importance of putting points on the board early in the league campaign.
"We learned last year if you don't play every game on its merit you pay for it at the back end," Smith told BBC Scotland.
"We lost three in the last minute last year and if we won just one of those games, we would have had the semi-final at home. So it is valuable points at this stage."
Smith saw his son, Jean, make his URC debut for the Sharks when he came off the bench late in the game at Scotstoun.
"I was nervous," Smith said. "I didn't want him to come on early because maybe one of his errors can lead to us winning.
"So I wanted always the best for him. But everything worked out well and he made a very try-saving tackle on Ollie Smith. So we'll look with a double opinion on that.
"But I'm really proud of him and I'm glad it happened here."
Glasgow 35-19 Sharks: Three things we learnedpublished at 09:49 BST 29 September 2025
09:49 BST 29 September 2025
Andy Burke BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNS
Glasgow's winning mentality
Glasgow will perform better this season, but what shone through was their winning mentality, which is particularly evident on their own patch.
The Sharks stubbornly refused to go away until the late in the game when Warriors finally pulled away on the scoreboard.
What was impressive was whenever the South African side hauled themselves back within striking distance, Glasgow went straight down the other end and scored to reassert their authority.
That's the mindset of a team who have been over the course before, and you would not bet against them being there or thereabouts again this season.
Reliable Rowe
Kyle Rowe rarely grabs the headlines but he must be a coach's dream.
The wing has that happy knack of seemingly always being in the right place in the right time and popping up with tries just when his team needs them.
The Sharks opened up Glasgow on a couple of occasions early on and got themselves in front with Edwill van der Merwe's try, but Rowe's response just five minutes later prevented any sense of panic setting in for the home side.
Rowe is one of those wings who does everything well – a terrific runner with ball-in-hand, solid defensively, good under the high ball and always seems to make good decisions.
Ferrie made of the right stuff
This could be the season Euan Ferrie really comes to the fore.
The 24-year-old has for some time been considered one of Glasgow's best prospects and now we are seeing him ready to play a more central role.
Ferrie carries hard, makes vital yards and has a great appetite for work.
His brilliant offload off the deck for George Horne showed there is also a subtlety to his game and his ability to cover both second and back-row makes him an invaluable option for Warriors.
'This clown car of a club needs to stop'published at 14:05 BST 28 September 2025
14:05 BST 28 September 2025
We asked for your views on Edinburgh's 31-28 defeat to Zebre.
Here's what some of you said:
Rod: More of the same. Kicking from hand was awful. Losing to the worst team in the league when they were down to 14 men for 30 minutes is truly worrying. Surely it is time for a change.
Alex: When are Edinburgh going to stop scapegoating the head coach and realise it's the club culture of mediocrity that's the problem? Edinburgh players have access to international facilities, international physios and international equipment at Murrayfield! This clown car of a club needs to stop, it was funny for the last 26 years, not now!
Mark: I like Zebre as plucky underdogs but Edinburgh should be putting these teams away easily. A terrible start to the season. Edinburgh have world class players who play magnificently for the Lions and Scotland but are miserable for them. The only conclusion is that a team that represents 50 per cent of the Scotland team will finish outside the top eight and that's down to the coach.
Steve: Well, what can one say about that. Once again Edinburgh Rugby manage to play slightly below the level of their opposition in what was a low quality contest. Aimless, directionless, rudderless, call it what you will, but definitely useless. In fact, pick any "less" you like and that pretty much sums up Edinburgh right now. For all the bravado of the pre-season talk, the players looked half baked and badly prepared, both physically and tactically.
David: Edinburgh gave the impression that they simply did not want to be there. There appeared to be no spark in the team. They had no exit strategy from their own half except aimless kicking which allowed a 14 man Zebre to keep them in their own half for most of the sin bin period. They were back to the disjoined outfit they were at the beginning of last season.
Joe: Hate to be harsh but absolutely no progress from last season. Same lack of passion from some players, set plays just not working and for me that's the head coach all day.
Ian: Lots of chat pre-season about Edinburgh picking up where they left off last season and kicking on. Not evident in that match. Yes it's the first game of the season, but this was pretty one dimensional and uninspiring. Early days, need to pick it up this Friday and set the season alight. Please don't let this be yet another season where we underperform to our potential.
Doug: Edinburgh want to win the URC but then at the first hurdle they fall over. Serious mental fragility continues to exist over this squad. They'll no doubt continue to flatter to deceive, possibly eke out a performance against Glasgow then return to normal. Nothing changes year on year, it's the fans I feel sorry for.
Andy: Looks like another poor season in store for Edinburgh. They've learnt nothing from past seasons and continue to be a group who have no strong leadership. Unless a quality nine & ten can be found, it'll be a mid table finish at best.
'Important win for Warriors'published at 20:06 BST 27 September 2025
20:06 BST 27 September 2025
Glasgow fans, we asked for your views on Glasgow Warriors' victory over Sharks on Friday night.
Here's what some of you had to say:
Kenny: An important win for Warriors at the start of another long season. Excellent attacking rugby from both sides with sparkling tries to match. Let's hope that the Jack Dempsey injury ahead of kick-off is not a serious blow to player and club.
David: Good win for Glasgow. Dan Lancaster needs to up his speed of thought as his indecisions stopped good opportunities in attack, as he was caught in possession. Game certainly was played at a higher pace when Adam Hastings was stand off.
Tom: Great game to watch. The pace and aggression from both sides was breath-taking to watch. A real team performance and I felt all of our players were on it from start to finish. Very optimistic for this season.
Ethan: As Franco Smith would say, always good to learn from a match but even better to learn when winning. The scoreboard didn't reflect Glasgow's performance as should have had about three or four more tries as they were taken away by ref/missed opportunities such as try line knock on. Good debuts for Lancaster and Kerr Yule. A winning bonus point whilst denying Sharks is a brilliant result. Hopefully Jack Dempsey recovers soon and Glasgow are sharp for Benetton away as that's always a tough game.
Henry: Overall, a few shaky moments but a good start. Stafford MacDowall guided the young ones well as captain.
Zebre 31-28 Edinburgh: Have your saypublished at 19:04 BST 27 September 2025
19:04 BST 27 September 2025
Edinburgh started their United Rugby Championship campaign in heartbreaking fashion on Saturday as a penalty in the final seconds gave Zebre a 31-28 win in Parma.
Glasgow Warriors 35-19 Sharks: Reactionpublished at 22:29 BST 26 September 2025
22:29 BST 26 September 2025
Image source, SNS
Glasgow flanker and player of the match Rory Darge tells BBC Scotland: "It's great to be back and great to start with a win. We want to start the season well and know every league point counts.
"To get five points tonight is a great way to start the season.
"First half we weren't getting the results we wanted - just little detail not quite on it. It was about sticking to what we knew would work and executing it.
"We've had a few battle with Sharks and tonight was another battle.
"The way Franco goes about giving young guys opportunities, there's competition for places. The whole environment in pre-season and this first game has been great. It's exciting times.
"Attention will turn to Treviso, which hasn't been easy for us in recent years. If we go there and get a win as well we'll be in a really good place."
Magnus Bradbury captains the side from number eight, while Lions duo Pierre Schoeman and Duhan van der Merwe are both named on the bench.
Edinburgh finished seventh in the URC last season under Everitt, losing to Bulls in the quarter-finals.
"I think everyone's raring to go," Everitt said.
"It's been a long pre-season, it's been nine weeks, the guys have played two games now and we can't wait to start. We're all looking forward to it and excited about what it might bring.
"I think we're well equipped if you look at the amount of hours we've spent on the training pitch, particularly over the last four to five weeks because we've been able to train really well with the numbers that we've had.
"We got a lot of 15 v 15 training so everyone is well equipped. We've got two new caps this week which is exciting for them but the rest of the team have all played together before."
Edinburgh side to face Zebre: Goosen, Paterson, O'Conor, Lang, Brown, Healy, Vellacott; Whitcombe, Ashman, Hill, Sykes, Gilchrist, McConnell, Crosbie, Bradbury.
Replacements: Harrison, Schoeman, Rae, Skinner, Watson, Shiel, Thomson, Van der Merwe.
Lancaster & Yule debut for Glasgow v Sharkspublished at 15:27 BST 25 September 2025
15:27 BST 25 September 2025
Image source, SNS
Image caption,
Dan Lancaster starts at inside centre
Fly-half Dan Lancaster and centre Kerr Yule will make their Glasgow Warriors debuts in Friday's URC opener against Sharks.
Lancaster, 24, joined Glasgow from Racing 92 in the summer, while 19-year-old Yule is an academy graduate.
Outside centre Stafford McDowall captains Warriors, with regular skipper Kyle Steyn not involved because of a hand injury.
Recent signing Charlie Savala as well as Zander Fagerson, Huw Jones, Nathan McBeth, Sione and Tavi Tuipulotu and Sione Vailanu also miss out.
Versatile Scotland back Adam Hastings is among the replacements.
Head coach Franco Smith told the Warriors website: "Playing at Scotstoun is always a privilege and we are looking forward to starting a new campaign at home in front of our home supporters.
"Even without their South African internationals, the Sharks are proof there are no underpowered teams in the URC – their squad is built to perform and their depth was a key factor in them finishing in the top four last season."
Glasgow Warriors: Josh McKay, Kyle Rowe, Stafford McDowall (capt), Kerr Yule, Ollie Smith, Dan Lancaster, George Horne; Jamie Bhatti, Jonny Matthews, Fin Richardson, Jare Orguntibeju, Alex Samuel, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey.
Replacements: Gregor Hiddleston, Rory Sutherland, Sam Talakal, Scott Cummings, Gregor Brown, Euan Ferrie, Jamie Dobie, Adam Hastings.
Edinburgh 'want to win URC' - Hillpublished at 14:26 BST 25 September 2025
14:26 BST 25 September 2025
Andy Burke BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNS
Edinburgh have set their sights on winning the URC this season, says prop Paul Hill.
The capital side finished the regular season in seventh place last time around, going down to the Bulls in Pretoria in the quarter-finals.
Despite only scraping into the play-offs last season, Hill sees no reason why his team cannot be contenders in the new campaign, which Edinburgh begin with a trip to face Zebre in Parma on Saturday.
"We want to win the league," Hill said. "We talked about it, it happens because people believe in it day in, day out.
"Having silverware in the cabinet, I think that's the only goal. I believe in it. I think that's all there is.
"Edinburgh have traditionally underperformed. I think last year the beginning of the season was disappointing.
"But the momentum we carried from the back end, if we can show that all the way through this season and put games back-to-back, I think that's something we can definitely achieve."