Scots omit Beattie for World Cup

Robinson on Scotland's World Cup squad

Andy Robinson has named his 30-man squad for the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, with no place for Glasgow Warriors' Johnnie Beattie.

Instead, Kelly Brown, John Barclay, Richie Vernon, Ross Rennie, Alasdair Strokosch and Nathan Hines provide the back row options.

Al Kellock will captain the team at lock, with Chris Paterson set for his fourth World Cup.

Winger Nikki Walker misses out after an injury against Italy on Saturday.

Robinson had earlier lost full-back Hugo Southwell and hooker Fergus Thomson to injuries.

Back row duo David Denton and Robert Harley were among the men left out by Robinson as he whittled down his options.

Harley did not play in either of Scotland's World Cup warm-up wins, while prop Ryan Grant and centre Ben Cairns, who were both absent for the Ireland and Italy fixtures, also missed out, as does Bath full-back Jack Cuthbert.

Edinburgh half-back Greig Laidlaw failed to make the cut after experienced scrum-halves Chris Cusiter and Mike Blair proved their fitness. Rory Lawson, who skippered the side against Ireland, is the third number nine in the pool.

Kellock won his 34th cap in Saturday's victory again over Italy and is among 12 players featuring in their first ever World Cup.

His Glasgow Warriors team-mate, Richie Gray, 21, is the youngest member of a squad drawn from 13 clubs, with 15 home-based players.

"What I've seen from the squad is a tremendous team spirit, a great courage for the way they've worked together and I'm delighted to be head coach of this squad," Robinson.

"I know they're going to go and do Scotland proud. I have no doubt about that.

"I'd like to thank every single one of them for the work they've done so far. It's now about getting in the starting XV."

Paterson made his World Cup debut in 1999 and will hope to add to his record 105 caps and record 786 points in New Zealand.

"The squad was announced at a meeting yesterday and the nerves were jangling; way back in '99 it was a phone call you were waiting for," he said.

"That feeling never leaves you and the desire to do well never leaves you.

"It was a huge goal of mine to make this World Cup. I'm delighted to do that, but the hard work starts again tomorrow when we get back to training and fight for that starting place."

Scotland begin with matches against Romania and Georgia before taking on Argentina and England in the pool stage.

"There's no point looking too far ahead - you deal with what's in front of you," explained Paterson. "Romania and Georgia are two hugely physical sides, sides you really should hope to beat, but you have to beat them - they'll take a lot of wearing down.

"There's a lot to work to be done, a lot of fine-tuning, but that will hopefully be done in the next two to three weeks.

"The Scotland-England rivalry is second to none. It will be a big game.

"It will be a strange scenario being played on foreign soil, but there are three games before that that are hugely important for Scotland."

Scotland squad:

Backs: Joe Ansbro (London Irish), Mike Blair (Edinburgh), Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), Simon Danielli (Ulster), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh), Max Evans (Castres), Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Lamont (Toulon), Sean Lamont (Scarlets), Rory Lawson (Gloucester), Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors), Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues), Chris Paterson (Edinburgh).

Forwards: John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors), Kelly Brown (Saracens), Geoff Cross (Edinburgh), Alasdair Dickinson (Sale Sharks), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Richie Gray, Dougie Hall (both Glasgow Warriors), Jim Hamilton (Gloucester), Nathan Hines (Clermont Auvergne), Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Alastair Kellock (captain, Glasgow Warriors), Scott Lawson (Gloucester), Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors), Euan Murray (Newcastle Falcons), Ross Rennie (Edinburgh), Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester), Richie Vernon (Sale Sharks).

View the original article here

Scots leaders in final hustings

3 May 2011 Last updated at 22:02 GMT The four main party leaders taking part in the final televised debate before the election The leaders of Scotland's main political parties have taken part in a final TV hustings before polling day.

The live STV debate featured the SNP's Alex Salmond, the Lib Dems' Tavish Scott, the Tories' Annabel Goldie and Labour's Iain Gray.

Ahead of the programme, the broadcaster published its poll suggesting the SNP would win 61 seats with nearest rivals, Labour, on 33.

There is one day of campaigning left before the Scottish electorate vote.

During the 90-minute debate, the four leaders answered questions on a range of subjects including pensions, jobs, knife crime, pay, public sector cuts and independence.

To begin, the three men and one woman were asked to react to the STV poll which was conducted by TNS-BRMB.

Labour's Mr Gray said that the only poll that mattered was the "one taking place on Thursday". He added that the one interesting conclusion of the survey, and others like it, was that a "very significant number" of voters had not yet made up their minds.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Mr Scott said the election still had a long way to go and he agreed with Mr Gray that many people had not made a final decision. He added that there was still "quite a lot to do" and it was possible that all the polls so far could be wrong.

The Conservative's Miss Goldie said she was "encouraged" by the poll's findings which put her party on 18 seats. She conceded she would not become first minister after Thursday's election but it was key that she was in Holyrood to "put the clamps" on whoever would become first minister.

The SNP's Mr Salmond emphasised that the "real poll was on Thursday", but he added that the STV's findings proved that people had had enough of the "negativity and scaremongering" of the other parties.

The survey was conducted between 26 April and 2 May and involved 1,063 adults aged 18 and over who were interviewed in 55 constituencies across Scotland.

The panel was asked about an independence referendum to which Mr Scott admitted that recent poll findings showed that "we were closer to independence". But he added that creating jobs and protecting services was more important than the independence question.

Miss Goldie also dismissed the importance of a referendum on the matter, adding that she was not in politics to "promote independence".

Protest held

Mr Salmond, whose party wants independence, said it was right to give the people of Scotland the right to decide whether their country should be independent.

Before the audience gathered at the National Piping Centre in Glasgow, Mr Gray said a referendum on independence would be a distraction and would create uncertainty at a time when efforts should be made to rebuild the economy.

Before host Bernard Ponsonby wound up the debate, the four leaders were asked about pay and public sector cuts.

Miss Goldie said it was important to "tell it as it is" when it comes to cutting the country's debt.

Mr Gray and Mr Salmond both said protecting the NHS was vital, but they argued about who was best placed to do the job.

And Mr Scott said he would cut the pay of top earning public sector workers because it was important to sort out the country's debt and not leave it to the next generation.

Before the debate a group of 24 protesters gathered outside the National Piping Centre.

Holding banners and placards they chanted "No to cuts" and "When they say cut back, we say fight back" as they waited for the leaders to arrive.

Sean Clerkin, Citizens United Against Public Service Cuts, who organised the demonstration, said: "We are here today to say to the politicians of all the major parties they should be using the Scottish Parliament as a vehicle to fight the Westminster coalition cuts, not to implement them."

Voters go to the polls to elect their MSPs on 5 May.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Scots turn out for royal wedding

29 April 2011 Last updated at 13:33 St Andrews was hosting one of the biggest wedding celebrations in Scotland Events have been taking place across Scotland to celebrate the royal wedding.

St Andrews, where Prince William and Kate Middleton first met, hosted a breakfast and party for about 2,000 people.

Balmoral Castle visitors were watching the wedding on big screens.

However, a protest group of about 60 gathered in Edinburgh, and an unofficial party in Glasgow has been criticised by the local council.

In St Andrews, a bagpipe procession formally kicked off the event for ticket-holders at the free party at St Salvator's Quadrangle.

Local firms and organisations came forward over recent weeks and months to offer their support to the event, which was showing the wedding on a big screen.

John Montgomery, 44, from the Tayport area, came to St Andrews because his daughter was among those performing in the quadrangle, alongside her primary school classmates.

"I think St Andrews feels responsible for all of this," he joked. "The atmosphere's fantastic here. It's amazing really for a small Scottish town to have two billion people around the world watching it."

St Andrews student Ronnie Guthrie, 20, from Perth, arrived for the party at 0730 BST.

He told BBC Scotland: "I came to the party because I wanted to show off my Britishness. I have been awake since 5.30 with excitement, I just couldn't sleep.

"I didn't get a ticket in the ballot for the party, so I had to come two hours before my friends.

"I wanted to come because this is the biggest thing in my life, until the next coronation. It feels great to be in St Andrews, I'm a royalist."

Daniel Pycock, 19, from London, said: "I came because I'm a proud royalist. There are not many moments that you're allowed to celebrate and show your national pride and patriotism.

"I have been up all night writing an essay so I just stayed up.

Monarchists challenged a republican demonstration in Edinburgh city centre

"I plan to make a day of it with my friends - the atmosphere at first was lethargic because it was fairly cold but it's now warmed up, the sun is out and everyone is very excited. It's a great day."

After their marriage, the royal couple will be known the Earl and Countess of Strathearn, linking the newly-weds to Perthshire, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Baron and Baroness Carrickfergus.

Far fewer official street parties have been organised in Scotland than in England, with 16 taking place in Edinburgh, seven in East Lothian and four in the Borders.

There is just one road closure in Glasgow for a street party. And in a number of areas, including North Ayrshire and West Lothian, there have been no official parties registered.

'No feelgood factor'

Shetland and Highland councils have not given their employees the day off.

Highland Council said it would have cost £350,000 to provide cover for frontline employees, such as social workers.

Continue reading the main story Jamie McIvor Local government correspondent, BBC Scotland

The number of official street parties taking place may give a misleading impression that there is a low level of public interest in celebrating the royal wedding.

They only include those street parties which have required council permission.

They take no account of, for instance, celebrations in church halls, pubs, community centres or even large private gardens.

A spokesperson said: "The council has made so many cuts already. We urge our staff to think about their position and how lucky they are to have a job with the council.

"I know people will be disappointed, but the decision was made for the very best of reasons."

However, more than 40 schools in the Highlands, involving more than 4,000 pupils and teachers, will take part in events such as mock weddings, feasts, quizzes, and arts and crafts.

Dundee Trades Union Council (TUC) is holding its annual Mayday march and rally. They said that the royal wedding provided "no feelgood factor" for those facing cuts in jobs, services and benefits.

About 400 were watching the wedding on a big screen in Festival Square in Edinburgh.

A group of about 60 republican demonstrators gathered outside St Giles' Cathedral on the Royal Mile but police would not allow them to march as they had not applied for a licence.

The protesters were challenged by a group of about 20 pro-monarchy demonstrators the wedding and police kept the two sides apart.

'Romantic story'

Glasgow City Council issued a warning for royal party-goers to stay away from Kelvingrove Park after an unofficial "alternative" royal wedding celebration was organised through Facebook and other websites.

More than 10,000 people used the social networking site to say they planned to attend the event and by 1400 BST there were several thousand people there.

Train operator East Coast said there had been a 50% increase in train bookings between Edinburgh and London for the day before the wedding.

Celebrations were taking place across Scotland as the world's attention falls on the wedding

One woman, who was travelling down to London for the day from Scotland, said: "I've grown up with Wills and Harry in the news and now he's got his lucky lady. It's a lovely romantic story as much as anything else."

First Minister Alex Salmond instructed that the Royal Standard of Scotland be flown from St Andrew's House, the headquarters of the Scottish government in Edinburgh.

Mr Salmond, who attended the wedding with his wife Moira, said: "This is a great day of celebration and it is wonderful that the Queen has bestowed the Scottish title of Earl and Countess of Strathearn on the royal couple.

"The Royal Standard of Scotland is flying from St Andrew's House in Edinburgh in honour of this special day.

"I wish the royal couple my warmest wishes for a long and very happy married life together."

Businesses across Scotland were attempting to throw some fun into the proceedings.

John G Renicks butchers in Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway, made red, white and blue sausages.

While Scottish brewers BrewDog made a "royal virility performance" beer, containing herbal Viagra.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.