BBC Radio Scotland Rugby Podcast

Tom English and Andy Burke sit down with Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw ahead of Scotland v New Zealand in the Autumn Nations. The former Scotland Sevens International who worked his way to coach the New Zealand Sevens team to a Commonwealth Gold in 2018 and a silver medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics has just led Hurricanes to a Super Rugby trophy. Plus Tom and Andy look back at the contrasting fortunes of Glasgow and Edinburgh as Glasgow stay top and Edinburgh disappoint in the URC.

With Scotland's Nations Championship campaign fast approaching, Tom English and Andy Burke head inside the national team camp to speak to some of the squad's biggest names and emerging talents. Seb Stephen reflects on the unconventional journey that took him from rejection in Scotland to rugby development in New Zealand and ultimately a Scotland cap. Blair Kinghorn discusses fatherhood, life in France and what Scotland must improve to compete consistently with the world's best. Finn Russell talks marriage, Bath, approaching 100 caps and why Scotland still have another level to reach, while Jack Dempsey opens up about life in Japan, his ambitions of playing at a World Cup in Australia and what separates good teams from great ones. It's a behind-the-scenes look at the personalities, stories and ambitions driving Scotland ahead of a huge autumn campaign.

00:00 Inside Scotland Camp

00:59 Seb Stephen: Scotland's Newest Success Story

01:57 Moving to New Zealand at 18

04:26 Missing Out on a Contract and Starting Again

06:17 The Moment He Became a Scotland International

07:18 The Hooker Battle and Scotland Ambitions

07:42 Blair Kinghorn on the Nations Championship

09:12 Missing the Summer Tour

10:30 Fatherhood, France and Life Away From Rugby

12:28 What Is Missing From Scotland's Game?

14:12 Finn Russell Joins the Conversation

14:42 Approaching 100 Scotland Caps

15:56 Married Life and Life Beyond Rugby

17:09 The Challenge of Facing New Zealand Again

18:31 Why Scotland Still Need Another Level

21:35 Bath, Longevity and Future Plans

24:34 Finn on Rugby's Growth and Eddie Hearn

26:33 Jack Dempsey's New Life in Japan

28:00 Why He Left Glasgow

31:03 World Cup Dreams in Australia

35:20 What Separates Scotland from the Best?

37:12 Reaction to the Player Interviews

38:39 Why Jack Dempsey Is Such a Fascinating Character

40:31 Finn Russell's Enduring Brilliance

43:09 Looking Ahead to New Zealand

Scotland are preparing for a huge month of international rugby. Gregor Townsend joins Tom English and Andy Burke to discuss squad selection, competition for places and preparations for matches against New Zealand, Australia and Japan. The panel debates the biggest selection calls, assesses Scotland's depth across the squad and asks whether this group can finally take the next step on the international stage. Plus, reaction to Edinburgh and Glasgow's strong URC form and signs of progress from Scotland Women despite another defeat in WXV competition.

00:00 Scotland Squad Day Arrives

00:29 The Surprise Selection: Ollie Leatherbarrow

01:56 Do Edinburgh Fans Have a Right to Feel Aggrieved?

05:48 Where Does Duhan van der Merwe Stand?

09:26 Is This Scotland's Deepest Squad Yet?

11:53 Gregor Townsend Interview Begins

15:23 Why Some Edinburgh Players Missed Out

16:47 The Thinking Behind Leatherbarrow's Inclusion

18:17 What About Magnus Bradbury?

19:15 Townsend on Bradbury and Freddie Douglas

21:38 Building Towards the World Cup

24:03 Preparing for New Zealand

Andy Burke and Tom English speak with Tavi Tuipulotu, brother of Scotland captain Sione and Edinburgh Rugby's Mosese as he marks his Glasgow debut with a try. They hear about the chaos growing up in the Tuipulotu household and why Tavi dreams of running out for Scotland. Plus as Glasgow have an excellent start in the Champions Cup will they get away with their slow starts as they go deeper in Europe? And as Edinburgh suffer their first defeat of the season but stay in the fight against Toulon, is their future still bright? And after another defeat in the WXV are Scotland's Women now going backwards? Tom and Andy have you covered.

Andy Burke is joined by Scotland's record points scorer Chris Paterson and former Scotland Sevens captain Colin Gregor to discuss Edinburgh's sensational start to the season and how far they and Glasgow can go in Europe. Plus Scotland's Women are back in the WXV, away to Australia next weekend.

Will Edinburgh continue their current form and make it three from three when they come up against Zebre in the URC? Is there anything to be worried about at Glasgow? Tom and Andy have you covered.

Andy Burke and Tom English lookback on a great weekend for Edinburgh and Glasgow in the URC. They answer audience questions and talk with new Edinburgh stand - off James Grayson. And are Scotland's Women's team going backwards after another heavy defeat in the WXV? Tom and Andy have you covered.

Andy Burke and Tom English chat with former Scotland captain Andy Nicol about a summer of uncertainty at Scottish Rugby with the Chief Executive and the Women's National Team Head Coach both departing unexpectedly. With the URC season swinging into gear this weekend they also compare and contrast the prospects for Edinburgh and Glasgow. Andy also chats with Scotland's Meryl Smith about whether Scotland can deliver a victory over Australia in the WXV Global Series on Saturday after heavy defeats to Canada and New Zealand.

Andy Burke and the team review an opening day defeat for Scotland, as they lose 18-15 to Italy in Rome

After Scotland's Six Nations defeat to Ireland, Andy Burke gets reaction from Rory Darge and Gregor Townsend and Sportsound's Fraser Brown, Peter Wright and Tom English.

After Scotland start their 2025 Six Nations campaign with victory over Italy at Murrayfield, we get reaction from Gregor Townsend, Finn Russell and hat-trick hero Huw Jones.

Andy Burke and Colin Gregor talk to some of the players in Scotland's Six Nations squad including Pierre Schoeman, Fergus Burke, Ben White, Jamie Ritchie, Jack Mann & Ewan Ashman

In 2024, Glasgow Warriors lifted the URC Championship. Andy Burke sat down with Warriors fly-half Duncan Weir and operations manager John Manson to relive their journey to glory.

Tom and Andy are ditching talk of tries and team selections to hear from Scotland and British Lions prop Peter Wright who shares his journey through a prostate cancer diagnosis.

In a frank and informative discussion Peter shares the ups and downs of his journey as well as reflecting on the anxiety he felt throughout.

Details of support with cancer are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.

Andy Burke and Tom English hear from John Jeffrey following the acrimonious end to his bid to become chairman of World Rugby and discuss the opening fixtures of the URC

Fraser Brown joins Tom and Andy to look back on his Scotland and Glasgow playing career and discuss what’s next for him in rugby.

George Horne joins Tom and Andy to discuss his tennis talents as a youngster, biding his time to become Glasgow’s number nine and his hopes for the URC run-in.

Tom English and Andy Burke look back on a poor Scotland performance against England in the Women's Six Nations and preview the weekend ahead in the United Rugby Championship

Tom and Andy are joined by lock Grant Gilchrist ahead of his 200th cap for Edinburgh Rugby plus Scotland Internationalists Chloe Rollie and Leah Bartlett chat about their upcoming game against England in the Women's Six Nations

Scotland prop Heather Lockhart and scrum half Jenny Maxwell join Thomas Duncan to discuss Scotland's upcoming game against England in the Women's Six Nations plus they look back on Scotland's performance against France