Latest news with #JohnDalziel
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'I want to be here to the end'
British and Irish Lions wing Darcy Graham says he wants to stay with the squad until the end of the tour in 28-year-old, who was a notable omission from the initial touring party, was called up to Andy Farrell's squad last Monday and will make his Lions debut against First Nations and Pasifika XV on Graham, who will start in Melbourne on the right wing, is joined in the matchday squad by fellow late call-ups Jamie George and Jamie Osborne in the starting team, while Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland, Tom Clarkson and the latest call-up, Gregor Brown, all fill the coach John Dalziel has admitted some of recent call-ups that are helping to protect the Test team could fly home after the game on Tuesday."It is awesome and something I have dreamed about my whole career," Graham said."It has been an emotional rollercoaster to get to this point but we are finally here. Open those doors and let me out on that pitch."It was about staying emotionally involved in the Lions and watching the games to see how all the Scottish boys are getting on."I was buzzing for them but watching it and not being involved is hard."When Ben White got called up [earlier in the tour], I was delighted for him but gutted to miss out again. To get that call was a dream come true." The Edinburgh winger travelled from Auckland to Brisbane last week in time for first Test preparations, while his international team-mates Ashman, Sutherland and Brown all flew out after beating Samoa on that extra time with the squad has motivated Graham to perform and stay on Lions play the second Test against Australia on Saturday at Melbourne Cricket Ground, before the final Test in Sydney."I got the call and had about an hour and a half to two hours to pack my stuff and get to the airport and try to get visas sorted, which were a nightmare," he added."We finally got it sorted at the last minute before boarding and got out straight away."I was glad I did as I got two days training to spend time with the boys and really settle down, it made a huge difference."I feel a huge part of the squad and don't want it to end. I want to be here to the end now I've been in."After that game on Saturday, I was like 'I want a jersey, 'I want a cap, I want to play'. Now I am going to get that opportunity and I want to go out there and stay until the end."This is the last chance for boys to put their hand up for Test two and three, so there is that bit of added pressure."
Irish Times
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Lions play down Mack Hansen injury concerns, call in three Scots for cover
The British & Irish Lions assistant coach John Dalziel has played down concerns over a shoulder injury sustained by Mack Hansen towards the end of Saturday's 48-0 win over the AUNZ Invitational XV in Adelaide. Those fears were compounded when the Lions' management confirmed the Scottish trio of Rory Sutherland, Ewan Ashman and winger Darcy Graham will join the squad 'to provide cover for the First Nations & Pasifika XV fixture'. All three are part of the Scotland side currently in New Zealand preparing for a fixture against Samoa. Graham is set to join the Lions on Monday, followed by Sutherland and Ashman who will linked up with the squad in Melbourne on Sunday. 'He's fine and he's doing the walk-through today,' said Dalziel when asked about Hansen. READ MORE As to why Graham is arriving ahead of his Scottish team-mates, who could play against Samoa on Friday, Dalziel said: 'We know that Garry (Ringrose) is out, so any contact training he's out of as well. It's just to give us enough cover for training.' Calling up the Scottish trio, in addition to Thomas Clarkson 's summons over the weekend, has inevitably drawn comparisons with the so-called 'Geography Six' of Welsh and Scottish players who were supplemented to the Lions squad at a similar juncture on the 2017 tour in New Zealand. [ Andy Farrell ponders key Lions decisions as the first Test nears Opens in new window ] 'Coming off the back of five games in two weeks and now we're into the business side of it, the Test week. We're looking at some knocks and injuries from the games and just the ability to add a little bit of depth and cover to facilitate training this week, and looking at next week where we have Saturday, Tuesday, then the second Test,' said Dalziel. He added there are no new injuries per se. 'No, nothing that's been reported. Obviously, we had the head injuries which are on 12-day mandatory (rest),' said Dalziel, referencing Ringrose and Luke Cowan-Dickie. 'So we're trying to manage around them and make sure we have enough training numbers on the grass as well.' Ringrose will have completed his 12-day stand down in time for the match against a First Nations and Pasifika XV in Melbourne on July 22nd. Whether any of the late Lions call-ups will stay until the end of the tour will be decided on an 'individual basis', but Dalziel refuted accusations that the spate of additional players will devalue the Lions jersey. Does Andy Farrell know his best Lions XV yet? Listen | 28:38 'No, I think naturally at this stage of the tour that the games that are more intense. Geographically, we're getting people here if they do need to play. I think it's the right time to do it with the right players. We're not giving away opportunities lightly. It's quality players like Darcy Graham and Rory Sutherland, an ex-Lions international. These are players who will come in and add value to the group.' Dalziel also said Blair Kinghorn had not yet been ruled out of Saturday's First Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium (kick-off 11am Irish time). As for Clarkson's call-up, Dalziel said: 'We've seen his form at the end of the season so he was hugely on the radar, and now in Test weeks it just takes an injury in training or at the weekend, and in specialist positions, you're a bit light. The days and difficulty you get travel-wise, we felt it's the right time in the tour to bolster that up in areas that are going to be vital.'
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Scotsman
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Inside Scottish Rugby's colossal coffee culture - where gigantic men with tiny cups are brewing up a storm
Scottish coaches and players bond over their love of coffee Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... I don't drink coffee at home — that's my rule. Instead, most mornings, I grab a coffee at one of the local coffee spots. Not long after moving to Edinburgh, I was on one such coffee run, making my way down the city's winding cobblestone streets. Rounding the corner to the specialty coffee shop, I noticed a group of ten or so gigantic men queuing. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As the barista steamed my oat latte, he informed me the All Blacks were outside. A few weeks later, I bumped into the Argentinian national rugby team. After a few more run-ins with international rugby teams throughout the city's coffee bars, the image of these brawny men holding tiny cups stuck with me. Walking back home, sipping my coffee, I couldn't help but wonder: What is it about coffee that has rugby players hooked? Lisa Simonis with Scotland and Lions assistant coach John Dalziel and Craig Jackson, head coach of Stirling County RFC, outside a coffee shop near Murrayfield, Edinburgh. | Lisa Simonis As I set out to understand this relationship, Scottish Rugby (SRU) shared with me that while many in the squad have an affinity for coffee, one name stands out: John Dalziel. Scotland's Forwards Coach — and one of this year's five British & Irish Lions assistants — John co-founded Distrikt Coffee with Craig Jackson, Head Coach of Stirling County RFC. I met the two for a cup under the spring sun near Murrayfield. Distrikt's story begins in the small Border's town of Melrose, where Craig Jackson and John Dalziel met while playing for Melrose RFS in the late 2000s. Their life journeys have since been a series of intertwining parallels, with both being involved with Scotland 7s, London Scottish FC, and coaching. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Coffee is often an acquired taste passed on by someone who already loves it. Over time, the bitter, battery-acid-like punch gradually fades, yielding notes of fruit, caramel, and milk chocolate. There was a time when rugby and coffee were strangers. Now, rugby has a colossal coffee culture, spanning teams across the UK and abroad. Coffee gives teams a space to bond and have conversations that don't always suit the changing room. Once upon a time, post-practice pints and meals were ways for the squad to socialise. These days, jugs of foaming beer are more of an occasional occurrence, with coffee emerging as a healthier alternative more conducive to the demands of professional sport. Distrikt Coffee was co-established by Scotland and Lions assistant coach John Dalziel and Craig Jackson, head coach of Stirling County RFC. | Lisa Simonis While most players have their own machines at home to use on their own time, at training camp, coffee helps structure the day. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Between sessions, players like to make their own coffees using the team machine, often comparing latte art skills. While travelling, some teams go on a 'bean hunt', searching for the best local specialty spots. From a coaching perspective, coffee has become a significant tool. As John and Craig explained, establishing a solid foundation of trust within a team is crucial. The squad needs a safety net — a support system to rely on when things go awry and people with whom to celebrate the highs. Known as sports or performance psychology, the link between the brain and sports has become a make-or-break factor in a player's performance. For many high-performance athletes, coffee offers a moment to focus on mental well-being. Craig's initial coffee venture started with a coffee trailer, a popular choice among rugby coffee business owners. One of Scotland's earliest rugby-related coffee businesses was Damo's Coffee, founded by former Scotland player Damien Hoyland, now playing for Old Glory DC. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Speaking to The Big Coffee, the UK's leading mobile coffee unit manufacturer, it was clear that trailers are often favoured over high-street shops thanks to lower startup costs, flexibility, and quick setup. Their mobility and outdoor nature also align with athletes' active lifestyles, offering a convenient grab-and-go option for quality coffee between training sessions. The popularity of coffee trailers includes new additions like Ramblin Roast, launched by Edinburgh Rugby fly-half Cammy Scott and his longtime friend, former Scotland U20s player Ethan McVicker. The idea started with a portable coffee maker on a camping trip. For the pair, their mobile setup is more than a business — it's a way to connect with the community beyond rugby and step away from the pressures of the sport. Edinburgh Rugby fly-half Cammy Scott (right) and former Scotland U20s player Ethan McVicker run their own coffee trailer, Ramblin Roast. | Lisa Simonis Pop-ups are also part of rugby's coffee culture. Cairngorm Coffee recently partnered with the SRU to bring 'Connection Cafe' to the squad's hotel and training camp. It's a time for players to enjoy a cup, chat with teammates and coaches, and maybe play cards. Conceived as a visualisation of Scotland's geography, Distrikt features four blends, each embodying a unique landscape: D1 for the north, D2 for the mid-belt, D3 for the Borders, and a house blend that combines all three. This breakdown mirrors rugby's regional zones, which contribute to the selection of representative teams. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad D3 was the first to launch as a personal nod to Craig and John, who hail from the Borders. It has a soft, luscious taste with notes of vanilla and hazelnut that mirror the rolling hills, painting the horizon in shades of green decorated with clusters of trees and winding rivers. The release of D1 and D2 is sure to follow as Distrikt grows. Sitting across from Craig and John, I got the sense they were totally in sync. It felt like watching a verbal game of rugby as they caught and passed words seamlessly, finishing each other's sentences at least three times. Rugby and coffee crossed paths again when, one weekend, on my morning coffee run, I heard about a new cafe opening in St Andrews. The cafe is co-owned by Scottish international rugby star brothers Matt and Zander Fagerson alongside Fraser Smith, founder of Dundee's EH9 Espresso. On a sunny Wednesday morning, I took the train up the coast, the sea glistening in the morning sunshine as I ventured to meet the trio at the newly opened located inside the Saints Sport, at the University of St Andrews. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Picture an idyllic small town nestled among rolling hills and quaint stone houses by the seaside. Away from the city noise of car engines and crowds, I could hear the gentle breeze and birdsong as I walked to the complex. Saints Sport provides top-class sports facilities to students and is one of Scotland's premier venues for sports training camps. For over 15 years, the University has been hosting professional clubs and international squads while remaining vital to the local community. Scottish international rugby star brothers Matt (right) and Zander Fagerson alongside Fraser Smith (centre) at the newly opened cafe in St Andrews. | Sandy Coull Walking through the door, I spotted Fraser serving iced matcha lattes to a couple of students heading to class after a gym session. is located at the entrance of the complex, placing it in a high-traffic spot for anyone coming or going. Something other than the caffeine had the place buzzing. Just a week after opening, had already become a community hub. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Students and gym-goers came and went, waving to Fraser with hellos and goodbyes. Some shared gym goals, having just hit a personal best. Others shared life goals, like exam results. Whatever the news, Fraser was the first to hear it. Just as I was getting used to the bustle of I looked to my right and saw Zander and Matt Fagerson walk in through the sliding glass doors, almost like they were stepping out of the tunnel and onto the pitch. Like Fraser, the brothers love coffee. A young Zander and Fraser met while playing rugby against each other before becoming lifelong friends. The moment the Fagersons shook my hand with a firm but gentle grip, I had the feeling that if I played rugby, I'd go flying like a rubber ball off a wall. And yet, despite their intimidating build, they were among the nicest people I've met. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad They were present, eyes locked and minds loaded. I guess that's what some call the 'zone' — that elusive state where athletes perform at their peak. Appropriately, name references the resting heart rate zone, the place to rest pre- and post-workout. Knowing your squad is key to rugby. As Zander explained, if you understand your teammates and what drives them, you can 'push the right buttons' when needed. Knowing someone plays for their family or country is enough to say a few words when the going gets tough on the pitch. Studies have shown that caffeine can benefit high-performance athletes. For some squad members, the caffeine boost from an espresso shot or caffeine gummies before a game can increase alertness and power. After a friendly latte art competition, I stood back as Fraser and the Fagersons took over, pulling shots and serving customers. The brothers' first visit to was a relaxed and exciting affair with big smiles all around. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad They were chatting, eyes beaming. It's a side I suspect most don't get to see. I stood next to the Fagersons' father, both of us holding cups of coffee the boys had poured. Growing up, Mr Fagerson's coffee pot in the family home introduced the brothers to coffee early on. With Zander's father-in-law on my other side, I was reminded just how human rugby players are, despite seeming almost supernatural on the pitch. Zander mentioned that once players retire, it's the squad they miss most, the people who share all the highs and lows on and off the field. From left: Zander Fagerson, his brother Matt and Fraser Smith serve a customer at the cafe, located inside the Saints Sport, at the University of St Andrews. | Sandy Coull In a dizzying series of connections, rugby and coffee seem tightly intertwined. Like Fraser, numerous baristas are former and even current rugby players, including Robi Lambie, owner of Cairngorm Coffee Roasters. A true rugby fan, Robi played in his youth before opening one of Edinburgh's iconic coffee shops. Cairngorm has released three limited-edition Six Nations coffees and previously crafted forty personalised coffee bags, one for each Scotland player. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The relationship between Cairngorm and Distrikt is rooted in rugby. Craig and John were introduced to Robi through one of Cairngorm's baristas, Kyle McGhie, who played for Craig's team, the Stirling Wolves. I met Kyle a few years ago when he poured swan latte art into my coffee at a local cafe. Kyle's coffee journey began during lockdown when a teammate posted a photo of a specialty coffee shop. Curious, he visited and struck up a conversation with the owner about the beans. That encounter ignited a career in coffee and led him to the UK Barista Championship 2023, where he was among the UK's top 10 baristas and the only Scot in the final. Kyle's little sister, Francesca McGhie, plays for Scotland's women's rugby team. Unsurprisingly, coffee culture is just as much a part of women's rugby. The Welsh women's squad often drops by my local cafe when they're in town. One by one, the women filter into the shop, combining smaller tables as the group grows. Craig and John's Distrikt Coffee is roasted locally at Cairngorm's roastery. In a warehouse in Portobello, I got a sneak peek at the behind-the-scenes magic that turns green, raw coffee into its distinct roasted brown familiar to most coffee drinkers. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Rows of hessian coffee sacks labelled Colombia, Honduras, and Brazil lined the back as the roasting machine swirled a fresh batch of beans, the seeds cracking from the heat. The process was visible only through a peek-a-boo hole at the front until it opened, and the roasted coffee came cascading into the cooling tray. To think that these little beans travelled halfway across the world and will probably end up in someone's coffee cup. In Distrikt's case, that someone is likely a rugby player. Setting out to understand rugby's coffee culture, I stumbled upon a story about people bound together by friendship, connection, community, and coffee. Somewhere along the way, I ended up drinking coffee with the guys, and by the end, I had enough caffeine to see my hands twitching as I wrote it all down.
Irish Times
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Five things we learned from the Lions' loss to Argentina
Finlay Bealham and Ellis Genge are mighty good together in the scrum Finlay Bealham may have been a late call-up to the Lions team following Zander Fagerson's unfortunate injury but the Connacht and Ireland tighthead prop - in tandem with Ellis Genge, the Lions' best player on the night, and the rest of the pack - gave the Argentina scrum a torrid time for most of the game before a raft of changes rendered that aspect of the game messier, especially as referee James Doleman became less inclined to intervene, preferring to let the game flow. The scrum provided a perfect launch pad for the Bundee Aki try. What will rankle a little is that the Lions didn't maximise their dominance in terms of putting points on the scoreboard, letting Argentina off the hook after going to the corner several times. On balance though, and when considering that the Lions will bring in additional size and ballast, it was a standout success on the night. The lineout needs to be addressed A penalty try was awarded after Argentina illegally stopped a lineout maul but, generally, there were too many turnovers on the Lions' throw. What will irk Lions forward coach John Dalziel most is that a couple of them seemed to be the result of system malfunctions rather than throwing errors. No one expects perfection but the pride will be wounded. Credit must go to Argentina for the manner in which they got jumpers in the air to challenge and also the way they defended the maul, particularly one near their own line late on when the Lions called in the auxiliaries from the backline. The Lions' capacity to add size in the secondrow and backrow could have a positive knock-on effect for the lineout. READ MORE Argentina's Juan Martín González and Ignacio Mendy compete in the air with Fin Smith during the Lions' defeat in Dublin on Friday. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho Argentina exposed Lions' weakness in the air Australia head coach Joe Schmidt will have taken note of Argentina's clever aerial work in isolating Fin Smith and Marcus Smith in one-on-one duels. Argentinian outhalf and man of the match Tomás Albornoz managed to pick out Smith when the Lions outhalf was defending on the wing initially. Andy Farrell then switched Smith from fullback to the wing, but he fared no better in that capacity. When the Lions get to the Test series in Australia, they are likely to have a different shape, with Ireland's James Lowe and Hugo Keenan especially strong contenders in the air. Mack Hansen added energy and impetus when he arrived off the bench. It was a little surprising that Tommy Freeman, who made some fine catches, didn't slip into the backfield to add a more robust aerial presence. Lions will fail if they don't learn to pass better There was plenty to admire in the Lions' attacking shape and the tempo of their play in the opening 20-minutes, which would have yielded a couple of tries but for a couple of knocks-ons. Despite that early promise, an over-reliance on throwing offloads would prove very debilitating, with several attacks undermined by poor decisions or passes. The ball hit the ground far too often. Making those passes stick is something that will come with familiarity. Or at least it should. Statistically, the Lions racked up the better numbers across various categories. They had 15 22-metres entries to the Pumas six, made 401 post-contact metres to their opponents 107, conceded five penalties to their opponents 12, had superior ruck speed, 29 per cent to their opponents 19 per cent in the premium 0-3 second category, had 53 per cent possession and 61 per cent territory and had superior gain-line success. Lions were too cumbersome on turnovers The video review will be a disappointing watch for the Lions, because it will show how they conceded tries from turnovers. Argentina were outstanding in exploiting those mistakes, especially in the manner in which they kept the ball alive, the timing of the passes and the sharp interplay and support to punish the Lions from long range. But it was just a tad easy at times as the Lions didn't scramble effectively to contain the initial breach. The Pumas were much more adept in that capacity, particularly when asked to hang on to their lead in a nervy end game. They shut down the Lions through the middle, encouraged them to go wide and then forced them back inside into cluttered culs-de-sac. Argentina's resilience proved decisive. Time will iron out many of the issues, but it won't assuage the short-term disappointment and the feeling that the Lions let slip a chance to win.
RTÉ News
18-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Scott Cummings: Pumas game a 'massive opportunity' to make Test claim
From an Irish perspective, there's a real familiarity to Andy Farrell's British and Irish coaching ticket. Between the inclusion of Andrew Goodman, Simon Easterby, John Fogarty and Johnny Sexton in the main group, or even support staff such as David Nucifora, Aled Walters, Vinny Hammond and Gary Keegan, the Lions leadership is heavily populated by those who currently are or recently were involved with the IRFU. But one of the most important coaching roles for the Lions this summer is being filled by someone who isn't as familiar to an Irish audience. Along with England's Richard Wigglesworth, Scotland's John Dalziel is the only member of the main Lions coaching staff who isn't coming from Farrell's Irish Rugby stable. The former London Scottish and Borders flanker has been forwards coach for Gregor Townsend at Scotland since 2020, having come through the pathways at the Scottish Rugby Union, working with their Under-20s and Sevens teams before stepping up to the senior coaching ticket. So, what should the Irish Lions contingent expect from Dalziel (below) over the next seven weeks? "He's great," said Scott Cummings, one of seven Scotland players in the Lions squad. "I've been with John Dalziel [for a long time], he was my U20s coach and coached me at Glasgow and has obviously done stuff at Scotland, so I know him really well. "He's really detail-orientated in what he wants from the guys. You'll probably see that as soon as we play, around how things work, but he's also really good at understanding the strengths that the squad has and using those strengths. "It's not like 'this is our plan, we have to go with this'. If someone like Maro comes in and says 'could we run this, or this?', he's open to allowing a lot of player input, which just gets all the players on board really well. "He's definitely pushing the standard in our set-piece area." Cummings was part of a squad of 24 that trained in Portugal last week, with players from Leinster, Bath, Leicester Tigers and Blair Kinghorn from Toulouse not involved as they continued their club seasons. And he says the small Irish contingent who were part of the Algarve camp were useful for info on how the coaches ticked. "He [Farrell] didn't load us too much before we came in. We were playing with our clubs and he wanted us finishing the season winning if we could. "But since we've been in, there's a lot of detail being added. Everyone's trying to help each other out. "Obviously, some of the Irish guys have been through certain things but it's a different game plan and there's a lot of stuff coming from all the teams. So everyone is working together as much as they can. "I'd know some of the stuff that JD [Dalziel] has brought in, there's some stuff that Wiggs [Wigglesworth] has brought in from England. There is obviously a large Irish contingent as well but there's lots of stuff we're taking from the different teams we're trying to integrate into one." A first-time Lion, Cummings (above) faces stiff competition for a place in next month's Test squad with the likes of captain Maro Itoje, Tadhg Beirne, Joe McCarthy, Ollie Chessum and James Ryan also vying for places, but should get an opportunity to stake an early claim in Friday's send-off game against Argentina at Aviva Stadium. Farrell is due to name his team this afternoon ahead of Friday's game, but with Chessum and the Leinster pair only joining the squad this week, it leaves Cummings, Itoje and Beirne likely to be involved on Friday. And with less than two weeks training behind them for this opening game of the summer, the Glasgow Warriors lock says the players have to take on the responsibility this week. "I think the coaches have put it on us. We've only been together for a short period of time so there will be some mistakes. "We're still learning our systems over the past couple of weeks, but Friday is a massive opportunity for us to show what we've been working on. "We have high quality players across the team, and they're just telling us to go and make rugby decisions; attack it, don't sit back and let Argentina play their style. Go and get them, go and show what we can do as a team. "It's a massive occasion, if I'm lucky enough to get selected it will be a huge moment for anyone," he added.
