There’s that feeling that the sun is out again. It’s at your back as you emerge from your cave, beating down as you wipe the last remnants of hibernation from your eyes. You’ve had your fill of rugby analysis shows on the box and you’ve had enough political discussions over Christmas puddings to know that you want to get back out there again.
Club rugby is back.
The narrative is more clearly defined now. There are three sections, A, B, C. In A the champions Melrose have lost three on the bounce in recent times and have lost influential player/coach John Dalziel for the season after rushing him back too soon from a suspected collarbone fracture. Behind them are seven other teams. Some are happy just to be safe from relegation, but others are hungry to push for British & Irish Cup inclusion or even to go for the biggest prize.
In B it will be a weekly skirmish. Those eight teams have more of a stark remit: get one of those two Premiership places or slip into the oblivion of the second tier.
There is a broad spectrum of histories, agendas and ability in that Premier B, but in a shortened run with so much at stake form and history mean very little. The oft regurgitated line is that every game in such a scenario represents a Cup final. In this case, however, it is more like a World Series. Seven games to attain the most coveted of prizes. A spot at the top.
The challenge in Premier C is that of beating the cull. Every club has the odds stacked against them and the fear of being proclaimed part of the regional competitions will be propelling the teams involved. There is a prestige that comes from being in the new Premiership or National League and to be forced to slide into any regional competition means it is that little bit harder to crawl back to the summit.
I would urge you to go out and watch a club game this Saturday. Edinburgh play on Friday night and Glasgow Warriors play on Sunday. There is no excuse if you are a fan of fascinating, fraught rugby. A lot of change is happening in Scottish Club rugby and you could bear witness to moments when it all burst back into action.
Here are the fixtures for this weekend:
Premier A:
Aberdeen Grammar v Gala
14:00 at Rubislaw
Ayr v Stirling County
14:00 at Millbrae
Currie v Boroughmuir
14:00 at Malleny Park
Melrose v Dundee High
14:00 at The Greenyards
Premier B:
Glasgow Hawks v Hamilton
15:00 at Old Anniesland
Hawick v Stewart’s Melville FP
14:00 at Mansfield Park
Jed-Forest v Edinburgh Accies
14:00 at Riverside
Watsonians v Heriot’s Rugby Club
15:00 at Myreside
Premier C:
Kelso v Peebles
14:00 at Poynder Park
Hillhead/Jordanhill v Falkirk
14:00 at Hughenden
West of Scotland v Biggar
14:00 at Burnbrae
Selkirk v Whitecraigs
14:00 at Philiphaugh