Smith Continues Warriors Reign as Scotland Choose Continuity
Franco Smith was long considered the heir apparent to Gregor Townsend’s Scotland post. The whispers were loud: a URC title under his belt, a proven developer of talent, and the kind of coach with vision who could carry Scotland forward. Yet when the job came up — or rather, when the contract decisions were made — Smith stayed at Glasgow. Instead, Scotland opted for continuity with Townsend, and Smith’s path forward remains at club level — at least for now. That raises some tough questions. Was this a safe choice by the SRU — sticking with the known rather than embracing change? Did Smith miss a chance to step up, or did Scotland miss their chance to inject fresh blood at the top? And for Smith himself: is he accepting the long game, or biding his time? What do you think — should Scotland have appointed Franco Smith instead, or was keeping Townsend the correct call?
Warriors Seek Response at Scotstoun over Dragons
Glasgow Warriors return to URC action to face the Dragons on Saturday evening, in a matchup, on paper, that should be won by the home side. The Welsh side has struggled for years to shake its reputation as perennial underdogs, while Glasgow has consistently sat in the league’s upper tier. The stats underline it: Glasgow have won 8 of the last 9 meetings with Dragons. Their average winning margin in those games sits at around 20 points. Dragons’ last win against Glasgow came back in 2018. And yet — sport doesn’t always respect statistics. Dragons can be awkward, gritty, and combative. Glasgow has greater depth and quality across the park, but complacency is a killer. Franco Smith’s men will know that an early slip in the season could undo all the momentum they’ve been building. What’s your call: a routine Glasgow win, or do the Dragons finally bite back and spring an upset?
Former English Rugby Star Moody Reveals MND Battle
Lewis Moody, one of England rugby’s fiercest competitors and a World Cup winner, has revealed he is living with motor neurone disease (MND). He describes his current symptoms as “very minor”, but the diagnosis has come as a profound shock for him and his family. MND is a progressive disease affecting nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing muscle weakness, loss of motor function, and eventually paralysis. While tragic in itself, Moody’s diagnosis adds to a concerning pattern in rugby: we’ve also lost Doddie Weir, Rob Burrow, and Joost van der Westhuizen to this condition. Moody earned 71 caps for England, lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in 2003, and led by example on the pitch with heart and grit. Lewis Moody’s announcement is a call not just to support him, but to support research, to support better care, and to support the work of those already fighting this battle. Doddie Weir’s legacy lives on through My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, which continues to fund vital research into MND, provide grants to affected individuals, and raise awareness across the rugby world and beyond.
‘Unfinished business’ – Steven Gerrard breaks silence on managerial return
Steven Gerrard breaks his silence regarding his managerial future as the former Rangers boss is heavily linked with an iconic return to Glasgow following Russell Martin’s sacking. Gerrard is beloved amongst the Ibrox faithful as he delivered the club’s first league title in ten years and stopped their arch-rivals Celtic from winning ten in a row. Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents, the footballing legend addressed if he would make a return to management in the future: “I’d love another go at some point. “I want to change a few things and improve a few things and come back fresh. “With a few different people around myself. “I’d love another couple of challenges doing this. And that’s what I’m working on in the background at the moment. “A few different ideas, a few different people around me. “Now I’m enjoying family time and doing a lot of things that I haven’t been able to do. “Going to Grand Prix, doing exhibition games with ex-teammates and superstars, that type of stuff’s been great. “But there’s a part of me that still feels that there’s a bit of unfinished business in terms of wanting to go in and face another couple of exciting challenges. “But I want a certain type of challenge. “If in an ideal world they come available, I’ll jump at them. “If they don’t, I won’t go back in. I want to be at a team that’s going to compete to win because I think that suits me better. “I think certain jobs and certain clubs would suit my style and the way I like to go about it. “But I’ve also got time now where I’m not in a rush, where I know the right people that are out there to make me a stronger and a better coach. The former England international spoke about his time as Gers boss and how he believes him and the Govan club were the perfect match: “It was the managing side of it that I enjoyed. “The one-to-one motivating players. “Seeing that I could make a difference with a player to get more out of that individual player. Then I got the opportunity to go to Rangers and I loved it. “Rangers, I felt like it was the perfect match. And it went on from there.”
Derek McInnes would be ‘open’ to a move to Rangers
Hearts boss Derek McInnes would be ‘open’ to the prospect of replacing Russell Martin as Rangers manager. McInnes currently has the Jambos flying right now as they’re currently top of the Scottish Premiership unbeaten. The 54-year-old famously knocked back the opportunity to become the Light Blues boss eight years ago. According to TalkSport’s Alex Crook, the Scottish manager is keen on the role but won’t be actively seeking for it: “Derek McInnes is doing so well at Hearts and he’s taking them to the top of the table, and what I’m told there is that McInnes would be open to the move but I don’t think he’s going to actively tout himself. “I think Rangers would have to offer him the job rather than him applying.” McInnes took charge of the Jam Tarts four months ago but what a stunning twist of events this would be if he was to jump ship to the Ibrox club.
Sean Dyche ‘not interested’ in becoming the next Rangers boss
Sean Dyche is ‘not interested’ in becoming the next Rangers manager as the Ibrox club continue to look for Russell Martin’s successor. Dyche was one of the front-runners according to the bookies due to his previous working relationship with Sporting Director Kevin Thelwell. Reports suggested that Thelwell met with Dyche to discuss the possibility of becoming the Ibrox boss. According to Sky Sports News, the former Burnley and Everton manager is no longer in the running for the job. Derek McInnes and Steven Gerrard appear to be the Ibrox faithful’s favourites to land the role. Hearts are currently top of the Scottish Premiership and Gerrard has been out of the game since leaving Al-Ettifaqq nine months ago. Stephen Robinson and Kevin Muscat’s names have also been touted to replace Martin.
‘It’s no a brainer!’ – Ex-Rangers star issues come-and-get-me plea for Ibrox return
Rangers are now on the look out for a new manager after sacking Russell Martin after only 123 days in the dugout. The Ibrox club currently sit eighth in the Scottish Premiership with only one win out of seven league games. It’s been a shocking start for the Light Blues as they are on the hunt to appoint their 21st permanent manager in the club’s 153 year history. Former Gers boss Steven Gerrard is the bookies favourite to make a return to Glasgow four years after departing the club for Aston Villa. Gerrard had huge success at the Govan club as he won their first league title in ten years and going invincible in the 2020/2021. One player who thrived under the footballing icon at Rangers was Jermain Defoe who made 74 appearances and scored 32 goals. The former England international has completed his coaching badges and previously had a spell at Tottenham Hotspur’s Academy. Defoe has always expressed that he would be keen in returning to the club one day in some capacity. The former striker’s stance hasn’t changed as he told Sky Sports News he jump at the opportunity to go back to the Teddy Bears: “I’ve done all my coaching badges and if I got an opportunity to come back to that club to help this group of players then it would be a no-brainer.” “It’s well documented, the time I had there and winning arguably the most important league in the club’s history.”I understood when you put on a Rangers shirt you have to win and the demands and the standards.”
