London Scottish v Yorkshire Carnegie

Welcome back to The Athletic Ground for our first Friday night fixture of the season, as we play our last Championship Cup fixture before heading into the Greene King IPA Championship. Welcome to all the travelling Yorkshire Carnegie supporters, the match officials and the London Scottish supporters.

Our Cup campaign has got off to a great start and we’re looking to secure another win today. Not only have the results been brilliant, including last weekend’s win against Nottingham, but the performances have been equally as impressive with a resolute defence and some exciting attacking flair to match. To see three of the players who have joined us this season go over and score their first tries in a Scottish shirt last Saturday was confirmation of some good recruitment over the summer.

I would also like to give a warm welcome back to Ed Hoadley and Joe Luca Smith, who have both recovered from long term shoulder injuries and are on the bench for us this evening.

Tonight we welcome Yorkshire Carnegie, who after a difficult summer of reorganization, remain a part of the Championship of which they have been a key member for many years. We wish them well in their new structure.

Last year’s fixture at the RAG ended in a win for the men from Yorkshire, we will be looking to come out on top today. A victory would go a long way to ensure our quarter final spot in the Cup.

We’ll be looking to continue our recent good form and re-establish home team supremacy. After this weekend’s game, the Championship Cup takes a back seat and the Greene King IPA Championship will take precedent for the next six weeks. We will kick off our league campaign at home next week against Newcastle Falcons.

Back to tonight’s fixture and here’s to an entertaining and eventful evening at The Athletic Ground and hopefully our London Scots can pull off a victory to cement themselves in the top spot of Group 3 of the Cup.

Paul Burnell – President

I was really happy with the win last week against Nottingham, especially as we came away from it with a bonus point. However, I think there’s plenty to work on. In the second half there were a few average patches, which I think we can look at and improve on.

It was great to see the new boys performing well and we are starting to get real depth to the squad, which is outstanding. The likes of last week’s try scorers (Luke Hibberd, Alex Toolis and Jonas Mikalcius) are really putting their hands up and working hard each week.

I’m really looking forward to seeing Joe Luca Smith and Ed Hoadley, who are both on the replacements bench today. They have both come back from lengthy injuries and will be raring to go. They’re both great to watch. Rob Stevenson is back in the squad and it would be good to see him get over the line a few times. The young players of the squad, Matas Jurevicius and Jack Ingall, have both been very impressive. It will be great to see them on the pitch and ripping it up.

To get three wins in a row would be massive. It’s been three years since we won three in a row, so to get that would mean a lot. There are a few goals which we would like to reach and getting a home quarter final in the Championship Cup would be great. To have three wins on the bounce heading into the league would be a big boost for the boys. I’m really looking forward to hopefully getting a win today.

We can’t be complacent today. It doesn’t really matter what Yorkshire Carnegie’s previous results are. We just need to make sure that we ourselves are doing all we can to win the game. They’re still a Championship team. They still have players at Championship level. We just want to go out there and play our own game and just take every fixture as it comes.

With the shorter turn around this week we just needed to make sure that on the Sunday, after the match against Nottingham on the Saturday, the boys were doing their recovery and they were coming in on a Monday as fresh as they could be.

I quite like evening fixtures. You get to have a bit of a lie in, which you can’t really do when you have a three o’clock kick off. You also have more time to get everything sorted. I like having the whole day to switch off and then get under the floodlights in the evening.

I would like to take this opportunity to encourage all our fans to come down and watch us. Friday night matches are great fun, playing under the floodlights and there’s always a good atmosphere at the ground. The boys will come out firing, as they’ve had all day to rest and get ready for the game. Your support means everything to us!

Hope you all enjoy the game!

Lewis Wynne – Captain

Full squad profiles, including bio and stats, can be viewed on the main club website.

Over the summer Yorkshire Carnegie’s spot in the Championship seemed to in threat as the club entered into a CVA process. However, to the relief of all concerned within the Yorkshire club that process has been completed successfully and the club was able to retain its place in the competition, of which it has been a key member for many years.

This year Yorkshire Carnegie has a full time director of rugby Martyn Wood and part time players which may moderate their ambition after many years of great achievements, but we wish them well.

Yorkshire Carnegie finished three places above us last season, winning 11 out of their twenty-two fixtures.

Last season’s matches against Yorkshire Carnegie included a win away from home 5-17 and then a bad defeat at home 20-42.

They currently sit bottom the Cup table, having suffered a 48-0 defeat to Cornish Pirates last weekend and a 83-0 defeat to Nottingham in the opening weekend of the Championship Cup.

TOM VARNDELL

Tom presents a pretty impressive playing history. Having started off his playing career at Leicester Tigers in 2004, where he recorded the quickest hat trick of tries against Worcester in the Premiership in only his second appearance for the side, he went on to play for Wasps where he made 132 appearances and scored 370 points.

In 2015 Tom moved to Bristol Bears, competing in the Championship. In 2017 Tom equalled Mark Cueto’s Premiership tries record of 90 tries. Following a brief stint with Welsh side Scarlets in 2018, he moved back to play at Leicester Tigers, the club where his career started.

Earlier this year Tom travelled to Hong Kong to play for South China Tigers as part of the Global Rapid Rugby series.

JOE FORD

Over the years Joe has racked up 925 points. Rugby runs in the family with father Mike Ford having played rugby league and coached England Rugby and Premiership side Bath, whilst younger brother George is currently representing his country at the Rugby World Cup.

Joe started off his career at Bedford Blues and also played amateur rugby league for St Albans Centurions. He made his professional debut in 2009 with Leeds Carnegie against Leicester Tigers. His brother George made his debut for the Tigers in the same match.

After a stint at Northampton Saints in 2010, he spent two years with Leeds Carnegie where he was the third highest points’ scorer during the 2012/13 season. He then went on to play for Premiership side Sale Sharks for three years, before returning to Leeds again.

In 2017 Joe joined his brother George at Leicester Tigers. It was announced at the end of last season that he would be leaving the club and returning to Yorkshire Carnegie in the capacity of player-coach and captain.

There is again the opportunity to sponsor a player or a member of the support staff to raise money for the club. Grab your player before your favourite goes!

The cost is £500 + VAT and the benefits that accrue to the sponsor are:

1.)   Your name or logo alongside the player in match day programme

2.)   Personal interaction with player after matches

3.)   New London Scottish replica shirt

4.)   PA announcement every time your player scores

5.)   Opportunity to use players for event or promotion

6.)   Two complimentary places in hospitality at a match of your choice

If you’re interested in sponsoring a player, please email Commercial Director, Carson Russell russecars@aol.com

Next week we welcome Newcastle Falcons to the Athletic Ground for our first Greene King IPA Championship match of the 2019/20 season.

The Scots will be looking to continue their good run of form, which has included back to back wins against Cornish Pirates and Nottingham in the Cup.

Newcastle Falcons were relegated from the Premiership last season, but Dean Richards’ men have been showing this month how strong they remain with a 21-8 victory away to Jersey on the opening weekend and a convincing 57-0 win against Doncaster Knights at home last weekend.

Their line-up last weekend included many proven Premiership players Toby Flood, Sinoti Sinoti and the two Scottish caps in the back row, Gary Graham and John Hardie.

The last time that the Exiles faced Newcastle Falcons was in the 2012/13 season, the year in which Falcons won the Championship and were promoted back to the Premiership.

The first encounter between the two was early season here at the RAG, which ended with Falcons claiming the win 49-32. Both attacks were well of top of the opposing defences, but an Ally Hogg hat trick inspired the Falcons to the win, the Scots having to settle for a four try bonus point.

The away fixture over the Christmas period was televised and was an unexpectedly tight match between the then high flying Falcons and a struggling London Scottish.

The Falcons took the win 12-9, but the confidence gained from a great defensive performance against the league leaders proved key in the subsequent upturn in Scottish performances. It almost goes without saying that Mark Bright was an important player in both games as he may be next weekend again.

Tickets and hospitality are selling fast! For more information and to purchase your tickets head over to the website NOW!

Save the date for the upcoming Minis Festival on Sunday 13^th October between 9am-12:30pm and the October Camp between Tuesday 29th October and Thursday 31st October Camp, which is open to those aged 6-16.

Earlier this week we announced that Matt Davies has been released from his contract. Unfortunately, he was unable to settle in London and requested to return to Wales.

With our very good wishes he has returned to Wales and joined Pontypridd. We look forward to welcoming him at the RAG sometime in the future.

Today you will notice that there are a number of red recycling bins positioned around the ground alongside the black ones for general waste. Please be sure to use these red bins for any empty plastics pint glasses, or better still please take your pint glasses back to the bar and ask the bar staff to re-use them for any refills.

From this evening’s game onwards,  the Sports Bar will change to ‘card only/cashless’, so please ensure you are suitably armed with bank cards when buying drinks at the Sport Bar. You will still be able to by drinks with cash in the Members Bar.

London Scottish Business Club

We are seeking partners who share our ambition and wish to work with us to develop and grow this great and famous club, our global community, and the game of rugby union.

The business club provides members with regular opportunities to network and build relationships whilst enjoying first class rugby hospitality, access to exclusive events, and world-class speakers and insights.

London Scottish hosts a range of exclusive, high quality events through the year.  Events are designed to provide insights into the professional sporting environment at club and international levels in a convivial atmosphere that fosters engagement and networking.  Events include a rugby leadership workshop at The Lensbury Club during the Six Nations internationals, a private dinner with England coach Neal Hatley to review the RWC, and a corporate day in Perth with the Melrose 7’s squad, guest speakers and a choice of sporting activities

The London Scottish match day experience is at the core of our Business Club.  Enjoy a relaxed pre-match game with guests and clients and alongside other like-minded business professionals. Our partner list now extends to over 150 different businesses and organisations all supporting our club but keen to meet new people and explore new opportunities. The diaspora of Scots in London is large in numbers and significant in influence, London Scottish is the perfect vehicle to pull these people together and our events are perfect for networking

We recognize the need to tailor our Business Club offer to meet the specific needs and priorities for your organisation. Hence, we offer every member the opportunity to select items from our wider events programmed to tailor a package exactly to your needs.  Enjoy a relaxed pre-game lunch, hosted by a leading figure from the world of rugby union or attend events such as the Legends Dinner, St Andrews Day Lunch or a four-ball at the London Scottish golf day.

Business Club Members: Adept Corporate Services, West Coast Capital, Allied London, Carbon Financial, London Scottish House, Cashmaster, Badenoch & Co, Malcolm Group, Three Stills, Fenwick Elliot, Dynamic Edge, Jupiter Asset MGMT, 24Haymarket, FOSR, Gallowglass Securities, MM&D Agency, Glenalmond College

Platinum Members

Sir David Reid, Martin Gilbert, Michael Kirkwood, Greg Knight, Rod Lynch, Frank McKay, Malcolm Offord, Sir William Purves, Charles Richardson, Ian Smellie, Norman Sanson, Iain Woods, Ross Coull

Gold Members

Alexander Badenoch, Colin Grassie, Eric Herd, Roger Jenkins, Stephen Pearson, Lindsay Forbes, Roddy Caxton-Spencer

Silver Members

Keith Craig, Iain Mackay, Simon Borrows, Calum Bryce, Douglas Flint, Jamie Gibson, Gavin Kelly, Hugh Langmuir, Sir Moir Lockhead, Iain Murray, David Newlands, Colin Rutherford

Bronze Members

Marquis of Aberdeen, Ian Aitken, David Cheyne, Alastair Dickson, Joe Flaherty, Ian Galbreath, Chris Little, Kenny Logan, David Mackay, Sandy McIver, Jock Meikle, Donald Reid, Kevin Sneader, Alasdair Douglas, Gavin Lickley, Nairne Gray, Roddy Grant, Ralph Potter

Founder Members

David Barclay, Donald Brydon, Mhairi Buckley, John Bustin, Malcolm Currie,Malcolm Gillespie, Martin Goudie, David Guild, Keith Hayes, John Hewitt, John Kelly, Ross Luke, Christian Main, Bill McCosh, Paul McFarland, Gregor Michie, Andrew Moffat, Ken Morrison, Malcolm Murray, Jim Park, Ken Scobie, John Sievwright, David Venus, Tom Woods