On this week's episode of the Official Scottish Rugby Podcast, hosts Chris Paterson and Caroline Blair look ahead to the upcoming Famous Grouse Nations Series. They discuss Gregor Townsend's Scotland team selection v Italy, including the return of Darcy Graham and Rory Darge named as captain.
Tickets are still available for this weekend's opening match against Italy via scottishrugby.org.

First Up: Italy

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Rugby

Scotland assistant coach, Pieter de Villiers joins Chris and Caroline on this week's episode of the Official Scottish Rugby Podcast to chat all things scrums.
Ahead of this weekend's Community Game Conference at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, where Pieter is hosting two scrum workshops, he speaks about the link between the physical, tactical and physiological aspects of scrummaging.
He also discusses the value of the scrum, interaction with refs and looks ahead to this summer's tour to North and South America.

Pieter de Villiers | Scrum School

Scottish Rugby referees, Hollie Davidson and Chelsea Gillespie join Chris and Caroline on this week's episode of the Official Scottish Rugby Podcast.
Hollie talks about her recent appointment to referee world champions South Africa this summer, when they take on Portugal in a summer Test.
It is another major milestone in Davidson’s career which saw her make history earlier this year, becoming the first female to be part of the officiating team in a Guinness Men’s Six Nations fixture, as an assistant referee in England’s win over Wales at Twickenham.
In 2022 she also became the first woman to referee a men’s Six Nations team when Italy played Portugal.
Chelsea talks about returning to refereeing after a 10-year hiatus, during a time which saw her contract meningitis and become a Mum.
Both talk about their love for refereeing and some of the challenges they face both on and off the pitch.

Hollie Davidson & Chelsea Gillespie | Same game, different shirt

Chris Paterson, Dale Clancy & Calum Johnston review the 2024 Men's Premiership and National Leagues as the end of season approaches. 
They also preview this Saturday's Men's Premiership Final between Hawick and Currie Chieftains and Calum speaks to Shawn Muir from Hawick and Jamie Forbes from Currie ahead of the big game at Mansfield Park.

Men’s Premiership Final + Season Review

Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm sits down with Caroline Blair to review their Guinness Women's Six Nations campaign to date, including last weekend's win against Italy in Parma - the first time in 25 years Scotland women have won on Italian soil.
She looks ahead to their final match against Ireland in Belfast this weekend - a match which if they win will see them finish third in the table and qualify for both the Rugby World Cup and WXV1.
Rachel also talks about her leadership style, the mood in camp and what the support of the fans means to her and the squad, following their first ever home sell at Hive Stadium this month.

Rachel Malcolm | One to one with Caroline Blair

On this week's Offical Scottish Rugby Podcast, Caroline and Chris catch up with some of the players who will be involved in the upcoming FOSROC Super Series Sprint, which gets underway this weekend.
Tom Currie from Edinburgh A, Kerry Johnstone from Glasgow Warriors A, Ross McKnight from Stirling Wolves, Corey Tait from Boroughmuir Bears, Finn Duraj from Watsonians, Jake Shearer from Ayrshire Bulls, Sam Derrick from Southern Knights and Lewis Wells from Heriot's all feature in our preview show as we look ahead to the first round of matches.
The first game is between Southern Knights and Edinburgh A at the Greenyards on Friday 19 April (kick-off 7.35pm) and will be live on BBC ALBA.

First Up: Italy

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