What an absolute delight and pleasure to be in the company of Ayrshire and Scottish rugby legend, Gordon Reid. Gordy gave us some of his earliest memories of his rugby playing background and an insight into his work ethic that made him a professional rugby player.  We discussed 2014/15 Pro 12 season where Glasgow won the championship at the Kingspan stadium and Gordy gives us the details of the day. We also talk about Gordy's first cap against USA on the 2014 Tour and the emotion surrounding...

In this episode we are joined by Ayr's Director of Rugby John Brown.  We started the day at Ayr Rugby Club at 10am for a round of walking rugby. I would encourage anyone who is free on a Monday, to pop along and have a go.  Terrific fun which is finished off with a bacon roll and coffee. What's not to like !! John then takes us through his playing career and brings back some of his favourite memories with many friendships made along the way. We talk through his role as DoR at Ayr and discuss...

In this episode we have the pleasure to introduce Grant Ruxton, Head Coach of Garnock Rugby Club. Grant gives us his background into rugby, his playing days with Garnock, his representative days and his transition into coaching with Garnock. We talk about the current squad and their impressive performance in the league so far and look at the challenges ahead, starting with a home tie against Cumnock this weekend. We also had a chance to get through some quickfire questions. The conversation...

This episode Louise Redpath, (Sports Scientists for Marr Rugby Club), explains all things data related including GPS tracking and video analysis as well as giving an insight to what other technologies are making their way into the modern game.  Louise also explains the opportunities and challenges that lie within the amatuer game for data analysis and gives comparisons to that in the professional game. With the abundance of data that can be obtained through GPS tracking Louise explains the...

In this episode we discuss the big game at the weekend, Scotland v Australia. we go through the main talking points which include, not taking points when they are on offer, poor stats percentage for quick ruck ball, what is the Scottish game plan and finally a comparison between Glen Young yellow card and Brodie Retallick red card. We also have a look ahead to nexts weeks autumn internationals with some predictions on the results...can Scotland beat Fiji ? The conversation then moves onto...

In this episode we have a full house on the panel giving their thoughts on the past week's club rugby.  We discuss the games from the premiership and national leagues with roving reporters giving their thoughts on the matches at Jedforest v Marr, Carrick v Kilmarnock and Garnock v Stewartry.  We wish The Ayrshire Bulls the best of luck for their final against Watsonians this Sunday 30 October at the Dam Health Stadium. We then ponder the thoughts of the Scotland head coach and try and work...

This week we were joined by the Head of Youth Development at Marr, Colin Sturgeon. Colin gave us an update of how the youth set up at both the club and at Marr College was coming along. he gives an explanation of how the conference points system work and also the expansion of the girls game at Marr. We then walk through the results from the weekend across the professional and club game, picking out our key games for the week ahead. We finally have time at the end to talk about yet another...

In this episode, we review the start of the league campaigns for Glasgow, Edinburgh and take a look at how the first few league games in the club competitions are fairing. We also have a look at some of the refereeing decisions of late, in particular, the controversial finish to the Aus v NZ game.  We have a discussion around the various fantastic fund raising activities  activities happening and fast approaching. Finally a special mention to Jim McNiven on his recovery.

In this special episode both myself and Kevin had the pleasure of interviewing All Black legend Zinzan Brooke. Zinzan kindly gave up some of his time to join us at Tony Peters summer house, thanks Tony and also many thanks to Glenn Davis for organising. Zinzan gives us some insight to his early rugby days and life on the farm through to working full time as a plumber/gas fitter whilst playing representative rugby. We get the chance to hear first hand on that drop goal against England and...

This afternoon, myself, the scout and Steven, had the honour and pleasure of discussing Marr Rugby Club's rags to riches title winning performance against Currie Rugby Club with 1st XV Captains, Fraser Grant and Conor Bickerstaff, 1st XV Forwards Coach Stephen Adair and 2nd XV Head Coach Keith Dunsmuir. The lads give us some insight into the preparation and build up for the game as well as some of the tactical alterations they made for the game based on their analysis and previous meetings...

In this episode we have the pleasure of having Stuart Pratt, Head coach of Kilmarnock Rugby Club, join us for a review on how the season has been going so far and a look ahead to their 5 remaining matches.  The Kilmarnock v Garnock game was a great advert for rugby in Ayrshire and showed the best that a local derby has to offer. Stuart takes us through the planning and tactics they used to finally overcome, what was a powerful garnock side.  We also have a look at the Six Nations games at the...

In this episode we talk through round 3 of the Six Nations, trying to find the positives in what was a very disappointing result for Scotland against France. Statistically Scotland should have done a lot better and we discuss the areas where we hope improvements can be made.   We also have a look at the other two games of the weekend and try to make sense of the law that eventually left Italy with 13 players facing Ireland, which is arguably a hard enough task with 15.  We gloss over the...

We were very fortunate to get stephen Raby, the Head Coach of Cumnock Rugby Club to join us this weekend. We were able to get the inside track on Cumnock's victory down at Wigtownshire which puts Cumnock in a very strong position for promotion to West 1.  Stephen also gives us insights on what Cumnock have been doing to achieve this strong run of results this season and pinpoints some of the key games.  He also casts his eye over the potential key fixtures and derby games, that will await in...

In this episode we discuss Scotland's frailty in Cardiff and why it's such a problem to back up a big result. we run through the stats from the game and look at what options Scotland will have when they face France at home next week. As always, there is room for optimism. We look ahead to this weeks club games. There are top of the table clashes all through the leagues as we get to the business end of the season. Supporters can look forward to a great weekend of rugby. We finally discuss some...

We have now entered into season 2 of the ATS Podcast and what better way to start than talk about Scotland's victory over England at Murrayfield on Saturday. The team analyse all the talking points of the game and have an eye on next Saturday's game in Cardiff. The discussion then moves on to look at the other games of the weekend with both the favourites, Ireland and France putting in excellent performances, setting up a mouthwatering clash next weekend in Paris. We then look at the club...

In this episode, the Scout and Gav give their thoughts on Scotland's fantastic victory over a resurgent Australia. They pick out some of the key aspects that gained Scotland their victory keeping one eye on  what South Africa will bring to the party this weekend coming.  The lads also give some thoughts on the other Autumn tests over last weekend, giving a special mention to Damian Penaud and his instantaneous resurrection after running into Julián Montoya, "Argentina of old". The team then...

In this week's episode we have a roving report from the Scout who ventured up to Broomfield to watch two in form sides going against each other with Cumnock entertaining Wigtownshire.  There is debate around the Scotland international against Tonga and the merits of the new caps and have Scotland changed their game plans with 6 tries coming from the Scotland wingers.  We then work our way through the premiership and national leagues discussing the Ayrshire club performances and a look ahead...

In this episode the scout makes a welcome return to discuss the the results and forecasts from Week 7 and looking ahead to Week 8.  We start off with a look at the Gregor Townsend's selection for the autumn internationals and who could fare in the games ahead against Tonga, Australia, South Africa and Japan.  We then review the results across the premiership and the National and Regional leagues with an eye on who are the main contenders.  We discuss the big result for Ayrshire Bulls winning...

In this episode, initially we discuss the merits of both Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby in the second round of the URC. We then look at the results of all the Ayrshire teams performances over the weekend. We have a look into week 6, casting an eye over the forthcoming ties, looking at what could be the best fixtures to see as well as dipping a toe into the water of predictions.  The discussion moves onto Super 6 and the rise of Ayrshire Bulls to the top spot, leading onto a discussion...

In this episode, ATS HQ discuss the opening games of the United Rugby Championship and the performances of both Glasgow and Edinburgh. We then move onto how the Ayrshire clubs are fairing in their respective leagues with a look ahead to this weekends fixtures. There are some key games identified for supporters to enjoy.  We also have a look at the Super 6 results with Ayr making a surge for the top spot as the league draws to a thrilling conclusion.  As teams are still coming to terms with...

In this episode, Gav and Steven discuss how the clubs around Ayrshire have faired now that we are two weeks into the 2021/22 season. They discuss how the leagues are shaping up for the Ayrshire clubs and what would be their pick of the games for the week 3 of the season.  The lads also discuss how teams are adapting to the new law variations and also give thoughts on the controversial new law variation on the red card, where players can return to the field after 20 minutes in the bin. 

ATS went on the road on Tuesday night to meet up with former Marr Rugby Club Captain Jim McGuffie and marr Rugby Club Sponsor Manager Glenn Davis. Jim and Glenn took us on the  journey Marr Rugby Club have been on for the past 50 years. We hear how the concept of the club came about and the work and effort put in to set the foundations at Fullerton. Jim tells us about the opening of Fullerton in 1971 where they played against an international select team boasting 11 British Lions who had...

In this episode Gav and Steven debate the outcome of the first test where the Lions came out victorious 17-22 against the Springboks. They discuss who played well, which combinations worked well, what could be improved upon. They also think about what changes the Lions Coaching staff may adopt and debate what the tactics may be for both teams in the second test. They finish by providing an insight into what they believe the final score will be on Saturday. C'mon the Lions !!

In this episode the ATS team and Colin Sturgeon discuss the First Test British Lions selection versus the ATS teams selection from back at the beginning of May. Gav brings a shedload of stats to back or question the coaches selections and Steven gives an insight into professional gamesmanship, providing a conspiracy theory that Dan Brown would be proud of. All in all, good fun to be back after a wee break.