The Offside Line Podcast: The First for Scottish Rugby

David Barnes & Peter Burns
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. 16H AGO

    And sent them homeward tae think again . . .

    Hello and welcome to the Offside Line Pod. After a very gloomy pre-match pod, the boys are in fine fettle as they take a deep dive into the 2026 Calcutta Cup and an all-round Scotland performance for the ages (scrum aside) and preview the round three challenge ahead in Cardiff. If you like what we’re doing on the pod, you’ll love what’s happening on our website. The Offside Line covers the full Scottish rugby picture, international, Premiership, club, grassroots and for just £5 a month you get the full access, plus our subscriber pieces like Beyond the Headlines, where we really get stuck into the detail behind the stories. It’s proper independent rugby journalism, and it only works with your support. So if you can, head to theoffsideline.com and join us.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    57 min

  2. 6D AGO

    Lost, like tears in the rain

    While Scotland’s Six Nations hopes look as stable as Lindsey Vonn’s knee, Barney and Burnsy are here to pick over the bones of the washout in Rome. They also talk Scotland A’s draw a and the U20s win over Italy, dive into domestic matters and preview the Calcutta Cup. We are thrilled that this week’s episode is sponsored by the WRU, who are excited to be hosting Scotland at Principality Stadium on Saturday 21st February. Don’t miss your chance to be at this epic clash in one of the best stadiums in the world. With tickets starting from just £28 for under-18s and with five-star hospitality packages available, experience matchday in Cardiff and hopefully enjoy a rare away win for Scotland in the Six Nations. We’re also running a competition to win 2 tickets for the Wales v Scotland game on Saturday 21st - if you're registered or subscribe to The Offside Line you will have an email in your inbox with all the details on how to enter and we'll share a link in the show notes ...   The question you need to answer is: Which current Wales men’s head coach previously worked with Scotland as defence coach? Multiple choice answer - A) Warren Gatland B) Steve Tandy C) Wayne Pivac D) Rob Howley Competition entry link  https://tally.so/r/68276k  General tickets - https://www.eticketing.co.uk/principalitystadium/EDP/Event/Index/1453?position=6&utm_source=theoffsideline&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=m6n_theoffsideline   Hospitality - https://walesrugbyhospitality.seatunique.com/sport-tickets/rugby-union/wales-rugby-tickets/2a1b2920?utm_source=theoffsideline&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=m6n_theoffsideline#69e3a8ac Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min

  3. FEB 6

    Live from the Eternal City: Scotland-Italy 2026 preview

    Hello Offside Liners, welcome to a bonus episode with our intrepid men on the ground in the Eternal City ahead of Scotland versus Italy on Saturday at 2.10. Mark Palmer and Craig Watson join Barney pitch-side at the Stadio Olympico to give their insights ahead of the game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    21 min

  4. FEB 2

    The Big Six Nations Preview

    Hello Offside Liners, welcome to this week’s show.  David and Pete dive deep into Scotland’s chances in the 2026 Six Nations, look back on Edinburgh and Glasgow’s latest round of action in the URC and cast an eye over clubland. We are thrilled that this week’s episode is sponsored by the WRU, who are excited to be hosting Scotland at Principality Stadium on Saturday 21st February as part of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations 2026. Don’t miss your chance to be at this epic clash in one of the best stadiums in the world. With tickets starting from just £28 for under-18s and with five-star hospitality packages available, experience matchday in Cardiff and make this Six Nations Championship the biggest one yet. General tickets - https://www.eticketing.co.uk/principalitystadium/EDP/Event/Index/1453?position=6&utm_source=theoffsideline&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=m6n_theoffsideline   Hospitality - https://walesrugbyhospitality.seatunique.com/sport-tickets/rugby-union/wales-rugby-tickets/2a1b2920?utm_source=theoffsideline&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=m6n_theoffsideline#69e3a8ac Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    52 min

  5. JAN 26

    Six Nations Launch Pod

    Hello Offside Liners, welcome to this week’s show. It’s just a short episode this time around as Barney reports back from the Six Nations launch in Edinburgh and he and Burnsy cast their eyes over the lasts round of action in the URC, the Celtic Challenge and the Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership. A quick heads-up on the Offside Line Shop - there’s currently a 30% discount running on all The Offside Line branded merchandise and books for subscribers, but it finishes this Saturday the 31st. https://www.theoffsideline.com/shop/ If you’ve been eyeing up a hoodie, t-shirt or bobble hat, or of course one of the fabulous range of rugby books from the shop, now’s a great  time to grab them — whether that’s as a gift or just a treat for yourself.   If you’re already a subscriber, just log in to your account on The Offside Line and the discount applies automatically when you check out.     Don’t hang about, it wraps up this Saturday. https://www.theoffsideline.com/shop/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    20 min

  6. JAN 20

    London Scottish for the URC? A Bryan Redpath special.

    Hello Offside Liners, welcome to this week’s show. Barney is fresh out of Gregor Townsend’s press conference announcing the Six Nations and Scotland A squads for 2026 and he and Burnsy catch up to pick over the key selections. They also discuss Edinburgh and Glasgow’s weekends in Europe as both progress to the Round of 16, with Glasgow finishing as second seeds overall.  Then it’s into the main part of this week’s episode – a long sit down with Scotland great, Bryan Redpath, to discuss his playing, coaching and business careers, with a major focus on London Scottish and whether they could make a play to enter the URC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 20m

  7. JAN 12

    Edinburgh and Glasgow march on in Europe

    Hello Offside Liners, welcome to this week’s show. Barney and Burnsy review the latest round of action in the European Champions Cup as Edinburgh and Glasgow secure bonus point wins, they pick over the Celtic Challenge and domestic club action and debate potential selection headaches for Gregor Townsend ahead of the Six Nations This episode is sponsored by Arnold Clark. The ‘Arnold Clark Real Sale’ is on now with huge savings on offer, go to www.arnoldclark.com or visit your local branch today. https://www.arnoldclark.com?utm_source=the_offside+_line&utm_medium=web_banner&utm_campaign=offside_line_banner&utm_content=real_sale_2026 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min

  8. 12/28/2025

    The big end-of-year round-up

    Hello and welcome to the Offside Line Pod. Barney and Burnsy are delighted to be joined by the pod’s favourite regular renegade guests, Mr Mark Palmer of the Tjmes and Sunday Times and photographer extraordinaire Mr Craig Watson. The quartet pick over the bones of the 1872 Cup second-leg at Murrayfield, round up 2025 and look forward to what awaits us in 2026.  We hope our listeners have had a wonderful festive period. Here’s to 2026. Happy new year when it comes.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    53 min
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Trailer

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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