The Offside Line Podcast: The First for Scottish Rugby

David Barnes & Peter Burns
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Welcome to the Offside Line Podcast with your hosts Peter Burns and David Barnes. In this weekly show we examine all aspects of Scottish rugby, from the grassroots level to the Test arena, and discuss the goings on in the wider global game – helped by a regular panel of special guests and featuring exclusive interviews.  David Barnes has worked as a freelance rugby journalist since 2004 covering every level of the game in Scotland for publications including The Herald/Sunday Herald, The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, The Scotsman/Scotland on Sunday/Evening News, The Daily Record, The Daily Mail/Mail on Sunday and The Sun. He established the Offside Line in 2016 to provide high-quality, independent and up-to-date coverage of all aspects of Scottish rugby. In 2005 he co-authored Jim Renwick’s autobiography, Centre of Excellence, and in 2008 was shortlisted for Rugby Book of the Year at the British Sports Book Awards for The Accies: The Cradle of Scottish Rugby. He is the co-author of the critically acclaimed Behind the Thistle: Playing Rugby for Scotland and Behind the Lions: Playing Rugby for the British & Irish Lions. Peter Burns is a William Hill Sportsbook of the Year shortlisted author and the managing director of Polaris Publishing Ltd. He has written eleven sports books, including Behind the Thistle: Playing Rugby for Scotland, This is Murrayfield: 100 Years of History in 100 Matches, Behind the Lions: Playing Rugby for the British & Irish Lions, This is Your Everest: The Lions, the Springboks and the Epic Tour of 1997, When Lions Roared: The Lions, the All Blacks and the Legendary Tour of 1971 and The Men in the Arena: England, Australia and the Battle for the 2003 Rugby World Cup. He is also the author of the forthcoming children's book series, Shadow Thieves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 3d ago

    Clubhouse: Arnold Clark Men's Premiership round three preview

    Unbeaten sides Currie Chieftains and Melrose meet at Malleny, Hawick head into the lions den to face Ayr at Millbrae, Kelso are missing their two co-captains for a tough trip to Goldenacre to take on Heriot's, GHA and Edinburgh Accies each hunt their first win of the season at Braidholm and the guys anticipate a tight clash at Balgray when Glasgow Hawks host Watsonians. Meanwhile, National One is shaping up a real battle, with every team capable of beating any other side in the league ... apart from Stirling County, maybe? And there's a top of the Arnold Clark Women's Premiership table clash at Bridgehaugh with Stirling County hosting Watsonians, and both teams coming off big wins last weekend. This week we’re sponsored by Sterling Sinclair Group.   As the undisputed masters of the Scottish self-storage and removals industry, the Sterling Sinclair Group delivers a complete one-stop shop experience across the nation. Through their strategic facilities – Perth Self Store, Edinburgh Self Store, and Stirling Self Storage – they provide secure, flexible space for every need.   This expertise is seamlessly supported by Sterling Sinclair's premier fleet of 19 specialist vehicles, ensuring professional packing, removal, and shipping services. Furthermore, their Hiab Container Scotland division completes their comprehensive service by expertly selling and moving shipping containers throughout Scotland. Find all the details at sterlingsinclairremovals.co.uk which includes their storage options.  https://www.sterlingsinclairremovals.co.uk https://www.hiabcontainerscotland.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Clubhouse: Arnold Clark Men's Premiership round three preview

  2. 6d ago

    High scores and low turnout – a crisis in Scottish rugby?

    Barney and Burnsy are joined by Eric Jones to discuss all the latest in the men and women’s Premierships, which included some major blow-outs on the scoreboard. They also examine Edinburgh and Glasgow’s pre-season games and preview a daunting WXV campaign awaiting Scotland.  This week we’re sponsored by Sterling Sinclair Group.   As the undisputed masters of the Scottish self-storage and removals industry, the Sterling Sinclair Group delivers a complete one-stop shop experience across the nation. Through their strategic facilities – Perth Self Store, Edinburgh Self Store, and Stirling Self Storage – they provide secure, flexible space for every need.   This expertise is seamlessly supported by Sterling Sinclair's premier fleet of 19 specialist vehicles, ensuring professional packing, removal, and shipping services. Furthermore, their Hiab Container Scotland division completes their comprehensive service by expertly selling and moving shipping containers throughout Scotland. Find all the details at sterlingsinclairremovals.co.uk which includes their storage options.  https://www.sterlingsinclairremovals.co.uk https://www.hiabcontainerscotland.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. Sep 3

    Clubhouse: Buoyant Heriot's head to Malleny

    Barney, Stuart Cameron and Robin Purdie reconvene to digest the first round of Arnold Clark Men's Premiership action last weekend, and to look ahead to round two, with match of the day likely to be Currie Chieftains and Heriot's at Malleny Park, with both sides coming off big wins last time out and keen to press their credentials as the side who can break Ayr dominance of the league in recent seasons. There's also a humdinger of a clash on the cards at Mansfield Park where Hawick will look to bounce back from their opening round walloping at Goldenacre to extend their impressive winning steak at home against Kelso into a 40th year. This episode is supported by PhiiT Limited and their app, PitchsidePal. If you've ever played club rugby, you'll know the drill – the coach is texting players at midnight about who's available, players are waiting to find out if they're cleared to play, and someone's injury notes are on a piece of paper that's about to go through the wash. Sara Marshall has been there as a physio – at Edinburgh Uni, Watsonians and Lasswade – and she built PitchsidePal to sort it out. It's a single platform for physios, coaches, and players to manage injuries, clinic bookings, return-to-play dates, and communications, all in one place, designed specifically for the amateur game.  If your club needs to get organised book a meeting or demo with Sara now through phiit.org.uk.  Act now to use code PRESEASON26 for 5% off your first year's subscription before 30th September. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Clubhouse: Buoyant Heriot's head to Malleny

  4. Aug 31

    We're back!

    Hello Offside Liners and welcome to season 3! Barney and Burnsy get back on the horse after a restful summer and are fired up and ready to go. This week they discuss the first round of the Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership and chat with Eric Jones ahead of the opening round of the Arnold Clark Women’s Premiership this weekend. This episode is supported by PhiiT Limited and their app, PitchsidePal. If you've ever played club rugby, you'll know the drill – the coach is texting players at midnight about who's available, players are waiting to find out if they're cleared to play, and someone's injury notes are on a piece of paper that's about to go through the wash. Sara Marshall has been there as a physio – at Edinburgh Uni, Watsonians and Lasswade – and she built PitchsidePal to sort it out. It's a single platform for physios, coaches, and players to manage injuries, clinic bookings, return-to-play dates, and communications, all in one place, designed specifically for the amateur game.  If your club needs to get organised book a meeting or demo with Sara now through phiit.org.uk.  Act now to use code PRESEASON26 for 5% off your first year's subscription before 30th September. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    We're back!

  5. Aug 27

    Clubhouse: Ready for kick-off

    As a fresh club season dawns, The Offside Line has launched its new weekly ‘Clubhouse’ podcast, landing every Thursday to digest the latest goings-on in the club game and look ahead to the weekend. This week, Barney, Stuart Cameron and Robin Purdie get together for a whistle-stop tour of the comings and goings in the Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership ahead of round one of the 2026/27 campaign on Saturday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Clubhouse: Ready for kick-off

  6. Jul 24

    End of Term

    It’s the final episode of season two! We delve into the U20s fifth-place play-off game with Wales, Scotland vs Fiji and a general examination of the Nations Championship. We hope you enjoy - and have a great summer! Advertise on The Offside Line Podcast Scotland's leading independent weekly rugby podcast covering the game from international to grassroots, every week of the season. Podcast advertising and sponsorship is now open for the 2026/27 season. We offer two partnership tiers to suit different budgets and objectives, with episode packages from 4 to 12 episodes. This season also sees the launch of a brand-new Thursday show - a weekly domestic club rugby preview, exclusively for The Offside Line subscribers. To find out more or request our podcast media pack, contact Elaine: elaine@theoffsideline.com | 07985 395764 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. Jul 13

    Pride in Pretoria

    Hello Offside Liners and welcome to this week’s show as we look back on Scotland’s narrow loss to South Africa in Pretoria on Saturday and preview next weekend’s game against Fiji at Murrayfield, and we’ll also be delving into the U20s match against Argentina in the Junior World Cup. This episode is brought to you by PhiiT Limited and their app, PitchsidePal. If you've ever played club rugby, you'll know the drill - the physio is texting coaches at midnight about who's available, players are waiting to find out if they're cleared, and someone's injury notes are on a piece of paper that's about to go through the wash. Sara Marshall has been that physio – at Edinburgh Uni, Watsonians and Lasswade – and she built PitchsidePal to sort it out. It's a single platform for physios, coaches and players to manage injuries, clinic bookings, return-to-play dates and communications, all in one place, designed specifically for the amateur game. If your club needs to get organised, there's a preseason offer on right now – use code PRESEASON26 for 5% off your first year's subscription before 31st August. Visit phiit.org.uk  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. Jul 8

    Argentina smashed! And a special interview with Roddy Deans

    Hello Offside Liners and welcome to this week’s show as we look back on Scotland’s record-breaking victory over Argentina in the first round of the inaugural Nations Cup and look forward to their match with the Springboks this weekend. We’ll also be delving into the Scotland U20s campaign at the Junior World Cup and chatting to Roddie Deans, the former director of rugby at Merchiston Castle School and now Scottish Rugby’s Pathway and Coach Development Manager for the Border and East Lothian. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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About

Welcome to the Offside Line Podcast with your hosts Peter Burns and David Barnes. In this weekly show we examine all aspects of Scottish rugby, from the grassroots level to the Test arena, and discuss the goings on in the wider global game – helped by a regular panel of special guests and featuring exclusive interviews.  David Barnes has worked as a freelance rugby journalist since 2004 covering every level of the game in Scotland for publications including The Herald/Sunday Herald, The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, The Scotsman/Scotland on Sunday/Evening News, The Daily Record, The Daily Mail/Mail on Sunday and The Sun. He established the Offside Line in 2016 to provide high-quality, independent and up-to-date coverage of all aspects of Scottish rugby. In 2005 he co-authored Jim Renwick’s autobiography, Centre of Excellence, and in 2008 was shortlisted for Rugby Book of the Year at the British Sports Book Awards for The Accies: The Cradle of Scottish Rugby. He is the co-author of the critically acclaimed Behind the Thistle: Playing Rugby for Scotland and Behind the Lions: Playing Rugby for the British & Irish Lions. Peter Burns is a William Hill Sportsbook of the Year shortlisted author and the managing director of Polaris Publishing Ltd. He has written eleven sports books, including Behind the Thistle: Playing Rugby for Scotland, This is Murrayfield: 100 Years of History in 100 Matches, Behind the Lions: Playing Rugby for the British & Irish Lions, This is Your Everest: The Lions, the Springboks and the Epic Tour of 1997, When Lions Roared: The Lions, the All Blacks and the Legendary Tour of 1971 and The Men in the Arena: England, Australia and the Battle for the 2003 Rugby World Cup. He is also the author of the forthcoming children's book series, Shadow Thieves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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