SCRUM Magazine – September 2019

There will be a new look to the

Tennent’s Premiership when the

action resumes for the 2019/20

season, with six teams from last year’s

National League Division 1 joining the fray.

Wholesale changes are set to be made to

the top two tiers of the Scottish club game,

with the ‘Club XVs’ of the Super6 franchises

dropping into the second tier of the club

game, and the top six of last year’s National 1

replacing them in the Premiership.

Having finished third last year, Currie

Chieftains will be among the pre-season

favourites to take the 2019/20 Tennent’s

Premiership title, while Glasgow Hawks

and Hawick will hope to take advantage

of greater top-flight nous and occupy the

opposite half of the table than they found

themselves in 12 months ago.

Hawick’s cause is helped by the re-signing

of club captain Shawn Muir and young

centre Andrew Mitchell, who both turned

down offers from Super6 clubs to remain at

Mansfield Park.

As for the newcomers, Marr were in

impressive form as they took the National 1

title, but Jed-Forest pushed them all the way

last season and will hope that the experience

of twins Gregor and Lewis Young stands them

in good stead for the campaign ahead.

Strength in depth looks like being an issue

for all of the promoted clubs, with many

setting their off-season sights on recruiting

players to ensure their squads are able to

cope with the increased physicality and

intensity of Premiership rugby, as well as

injuries and unavailability.

There are some interesting match-ups in the

league this season, with Borders derbies

between Hawick, Jed-Forest and Selkirk; and

west-coast encounters between Glasgow

Hawks and Marr among the fixtures to look

forward to over the coming nine months.

Here, we take a look at some of the new

clubs, players and coaches who have come

into the top flight of the Scottish club game;

as well as some of the returning faces.

B

NEW LOOK

PREMIERSHIP

SET FOR THRILLS

AND SPILLS

CURRIE CHEIFTAINS

GLASGOW HAWKS

HAWICK

EDINBURGH ACCIES

MARR

JED-FOREST

GHA

ABERDEEN

GRAMMAR

SELKIRK

MUSSELBURGH

144 • WWW.SCRUMMAGAZINE.COM • ISSUE 116 2019

CLUB RUGBY