Currie Chieftains
Ground: Malleny Park
Head Coach: Mark Cairns
Key player: Gregor Hunter
Young scrum-half Charlie Shiel - son of ex-
Scotland centre and Super6 Head Coach
at Boroughmuir Graham – can expect more
involvement with Edinburgh this season, so
the onus will fall to ex-pro Hunter to guide
Currie on their way.
The Scotland Club XV cap has played
at the top level for both Edinburgh and
Glasgow Warriors, and has been at the
forefront of much of Currie’s good attacking
play over the past two seasons. He’s also
got a crafty left boot.
Hawick
Ground: Mansfield Park
Head Coach: George Graham
Key player: Bruce McNeil
The retention of Shawn Muir was vital to
Hawick’s hopes of a successful season, but
equally important is veteran number eight
McNeil (pictured in main image), whose
experience will help to galvanise the troops
in difficult times. He’s a strong ball carrier
and not afraid to put his body on the line.
McNeil will give all for the cause, and with
the likes of Muir with him doing the hard
graft, and backs like Andrew Mitchell out
wide, could this be the year they mount a
title challenge?
Marr Rugby
Ground: Fullerton
Head Coach: Craig Redpath
Key player: Conor Bickerstaff
Alongside his brother Scott, centre Conor
Bickerstaff (pictured below) has been
an integral part of Marr’s journey, and
remained with them despite relegation two
seasons ago.
They are back in the big time now and
Bickerstaff will be hoping his previous
experience of the top-flight means he can
hit the ground running.
Alongside his brother and stand-off Colin
Sturgeon, who missed much of Marr’s debut
season in the Premiership to go travelling,
the Ayrshire side have a three-quarters with
an abundance of experience, nous and, in
the Bickerstaff boys, plenty of pace.
Aberdeen Grammar Rugby
Ground: Rubislaw
Head Coach: Ali O’Connor
Key player: Sam Knudson
The 2018/19 season was a roaring success
for Aberdeen Grammar Rugby, with the
club earning promotion to the Tennent’s
Premiership and clinched the National
League Cup with victory over Highland.
Stand-off and captain Knudson had a big
part to play in their success, and he’s one to
watch ahead of the new campaign. Another
playing for his local club, Knudson will learn
a lot personally from playing against the
likes of Gregor Hunter and Lee Armstrong,
but if he can keep Aberdeen ticking, they’ll
prove a tough nut to crack.Musselburgh
Ground: Stoneyhill
Head Coach: Graeme Paterson
Key players: Danny and Craig Owenson
Two of Musselburgh’s most dependable
men are brothers Danny and Craig
Owenson.
Danny (pictured bottom left) is a scrum-half
by trade who found himself in the number
10 jersey for much of last season. He’ll
likely return to the number nine jersey with
Scotland U20 cap Kyle McGhie now having
departed the East Lothian club, but Burgh
will look to Owenson - who has top-flight
experience from his days at Gala - for his
goalkicking too, he’s a reliable source from
the tee.
Craig, meanwhile, has also played in the
Premiership before, with Heriot’s, and
the powerful prop is part of a formidable
Musselburgh pack who will look to make
things uncomfortable for all the sides,
especially at their Stoneyhill home.ISSUE 116 2019 • WWW.SCRUMMAGAZINE.COM • 145CLUB RUGBY