It was welcome news for Scotland rugby fans that George Turner has given himself the opportunity to add to his 45 caps after agreeing to join Harlequins following his year in Japan.
The 32-year-old was Gregor Townsend’s first-choice hooker before his availability for the national team effectively ended when he left Glasgow last summer to move to Kobe Steelers.
Townsend said last June that the door would remain open for Turner if his circumstances changed in the future.
With Scotland short of senior hookers, he now looks set to have the chance to return to the Test arena for the first time since the 2024 Six Nations after sealing a move to the Gallagher Premiership for next term.
‘I’m really looking forward to this next step in my career,” the forward told the Quins website. “After some fantastic years in Scotland and a new experience in Japan, the opportunity to join this club came at the perfect time.
‘It’s an exciting challenge and one I’m ready for. I’m eager to get stuck into pre-season, meet the squad, and contribute to what this team is building. The ambition here is clear, and I’m proud to be joining Harlequins.’
George Turner is back in from the international wilderness after leaving Japan for Harlequins
Quins head coach Danny Wilson worked with Turner during his time in charge of Glasgow and is looking forward to being reunited with the front-rower.
‘We’re delighted to welcome George to Harlequins ahead of next season,” he said. “He’s a proven international talent with 45 Scotland caps and a century of appearances at Glasgow Warriors.
‘George is a physical, uncompromising hooker who thrives in the collision, bringing intensity and aggression on both sides of the ball. His experience and dynamism will be a huge asset to our forward pack.’
Scottie Scheffler takes a welcome swing at the LIV Golf money grabbers
How refreshing to hear newly-crowned US PGA champion Scottie Scheffler insist the responsibility for repairing the fracture in world golf lies firmly with LIV Golf.
A number of top stars left for the Saudi breakaway league in 2022, which caused considerable rancour on the PGA Tour, and despite the announcement of a merger the following year there appears to have been little progress in bringing everyone back together.
The three-time major winner brushed off suggestions he may not have seen the success he has had – he first became world No1 just a couple of months before LIV’s inaugural event – had the split not happened. He didn’t care to speculate on what might have been.
But in a golfing world where money just seems to be the number one factor among many players rather than actually winning majors and writing their names in the history books, it was good to hear a true champion like Scheffler standing up for the traditions.
‘Do I think that some of the results would have changed? Who knows? I only get to compete against those guys four times a year. That was their choice; not mine,’ he said ahead of the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial in his home state of Texas.
Scottie Scheffler holds the Wanamaker Trophy aloft after his US PGA triumph last Sunday
Scheffler fires out of a bunker during this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge tournament
‘At the end of the day I’m here competing and doing the best I can, what’s the point of me thinking about (it)? There’s really absolutely no point.
‘I have said it a few times this year: if you want to figure out what’s going to happen in the game of golf, go to the other tour and ask those guys.
‘We had a tour where we all played together, and the guys that left it’s their responsibility I think to bring the tours back together.
‘Go see where they’re playing this week and ask them.’
Scheffler, who went to the University of Texas, admitted his preparations have not been the same having won the Wanamaker Trophy at Quail Hollow last Sunday.
However, that is offset by the fact the course in Fort Worth is only a few miles from his family home and he stressed he has not just turned up to bask in the glory.
‘Coming off a major win obviously there’s a lot of emotion and stuff that comes with winning that golf tournament,’ he said.
‘But at the end of the day I didn’t just show up here to Fort Worth to just walk around and celebrate last week.
‘I’m here for a reason, and that’s not to just play a couple of ceremonious rounds and then ride off into the sunset. That’s to compete.’
I respect Andy Murray even more now we’ve worked together, reveals Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic says he and Andy Murray felt they ‘couldn’t get more’ out of their short-lived partnership.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion parted ways with former opponent Murray last week following six months working together – which was perhaps not the most surprising of news.
Djokovic, who is in no rush to appoint a new coach, is currently building up to the French Open, which begins on Sunday.
Djokovic and Murray have now parted after Serb said they took coaching partnership as far as they could
‘We felt like we couldn’t get more out of that partnership on the court, and that’s all there is to it,’ the Serbian said of his spell working with Murray.
‘My respect towards Andy remains the same, even more actually, I got to know him as a person.
‘I think he has a brilliant tennis IQ, he has a very rare mind of a champion that obviously has achieved what he has achieved, and he sees the game incredibly well.’
What a boost for Bairns now Arfield has signed up for top flight adventure
Veteran midfielder Scott Arfield is staying with Falkirk for their eagerly-awaited Premiership return after signing a one-year deal earlier this week.
The 36-year-old returned to the Bairns on a short-term contract in February and was instrumental as they sealed their Championship title win with nine goals in 13 appearances.
Veteran midfielder Scott Arfield played a huge part in Falkirk’s Championship triumph
Former Burnley and Rangers player Arfield, who began his career with Falkirk before leaving immediately after they were relegated from the top flight in 2010 to join Huddersfield, will now remain part of John McGlynn’s squad next term as they return to the Premiership following a 15-year absence.
‘Scott made a huge impact after joining us, the nine goals he got went a long way to helping us achieve our goal,’ said McGlynn.
‘Scott has been very influential on the pitch and also off the pitch where his experience has helped us no end.
‘We look forward to working with Scott in the Premiership next season, it’s exciting times ahead for everyone at the club.’
No sign of a Matt finish as Fagerson extends stay with Glasgow Warriors
He may have missed out on touring with the Lions this summer alongside his brother Zander but there was some good news for Matt Fagerson this week.
The 26-year-old, who has been with Glasgow Warriors for his entire professional career to date, has signed a new deal until 2028.
Fagerson has won 55 Scotland caps and made more than 100 appearances for Glasgow, whom he helped to United Rugby Championship glory a year ago, and he feels ready to accomplish plenty more.
Scotland star Matt Fagerson has signed a new deal with Glasgow Warriors until 2028
‘I’ve definitely changed both as a man and as a player since arriving here,’ said Fagerson, currently recovering from an ankle injury sustained last month.
‘So many team-mates have left their mark on me and help me to develop, and that’s probably the biggest compliment I can give to Glasgow Warriors.
‘I came in here with a lot of ambition but possibly lacking in physical ability or rugby smarts, and this club has shaped me into the person and player I am today. I’m nowhere near the finished article, though. I want to keep pushing on and keep developing in all aspects of my game.
‘I really want to push myself and win more trophies, not only with Glasgow but for Scotland as well. I know I’ve got more to give and more levels I want to reach in my own game, and I want to use this rehabilitation process I’m going through at the minute to come back stronger both physically and mentally.’
Even a machine like McColgan needed recovery time after marathon
You would think Eilish McColgan had been in enough races and run enough miles to take anything in her stride, but her debut in the marathon last month fairly took its toll.
A four-time Olympian at middle distance, the 34-year-old Scot admitted that she needed three weeks to recover from her efforts in London, which left her struggling to get up and down the stairs.
McColgan was the first British woman over the line, finishing eighth and breaking Steph Twell’s Scottish record – and that of her mother, Liz – by more than two minutes.
Eilish McColgan on her way to an eighth place finish during her marathon debut in London
Buckingham Palace forms a glorious backdrop as McColgan heads for the finishing line
While that result has given her confidence to plot the next step of her new career – the Great North Run in September is a possibility – she is mighty glad to have put the first one behind her.
Asked about her recovery, McColgan said: ‘It has taken me a good three weeks. ‘First week was a real struggle – walking down and up stairs, not the easiest.
‘It definitely hit me a lot harder than I expected. But it feels good now to have done that first one, to get it out the way and I know what to expect now, which makes it easier for the next one.’
Having crossed the line in two hours 24 minutes and 25 seconds, McColgan wants to go under 2:20, a time she believes is needed to compete with the best in the world.
‘London was the main priority and I haven’t scheduled anything after that because I wasn’t sure how I would recover,’ she said. ‘It’s given me a lot of confidence knowing that, OK, it wasn’t great, my first one, it felt tough, I felt like I struggled, but I came eighth and held on
‘The next one for me might be the Great North Run in September – a half marathon there.’
