The Super Series rollercoaster is set to come to a shuddering halt this weekend.
Almost five years on from its launch in November 2019, the semi-pro tournament created to try to bridge the gap between amateur and professional rugby will host its final fixtures, with Ayrshire Bulls meeting Stirling Wolves in tomorrow night’s FOSROC Super Series Sprint final ahead of Saturday’s matches between Heriot’s and Watsonians, and Southern Knights and Boroughmuir Bears.
It has rarely been straightforward, with the format tinkered with last year to evolve from Super6 to Super Series, but those involved believe it is a competition that will be missed when it disappears from the calendar next season.
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“It’s been huge,” said Eddie Pollock, the veteran Stirling head coach. “The difference in ability and physical conditioning of the players is night and day from where it was. The improvement I’ve seen in a lot of players is quite incredible. That’s backed up by all the stats that we get every week.
“I think in the years to come there will be a requirement for a high-level competition below the pro game. You look at Wales and they’re just starting off a similar tournament.
"Whether you call it Super Series or whatever, there’s a need for that standard of competition.
"What we can’t do is go back to where we were before in 2017 or 2018. The game has changed and the clubs who are in the Premiership need to be professional in their outlook to survive.
“It’s disappointing that it’s finishing obviously but we’ve got a new challenge after being placed in National 1 next year which is something we need to go and deal with as a club. We’ll prepare for that as we have for the Super Series games to be as good as we can be.”
Tomorrow night’s final at Millbrae pits two of the most consistent and successful teams in Super Series up against each other for one last time.
It was Stirling who came out on top when they met in the Championship final last year but Pollock is aware of how difficult a challenge the Bulls will pose, especially at home.
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“Our boys are in a good place,” he added. “Obviously we’ve had a pretty strong competition so far, scoring a lot of points and playing a lot of good rugby.
"Ayr have pretty much been in every final since it started, either Sprint or Championship, so they’ve been the strongest team overall throughout that period.
"It’s always a big challenge whenever we play against them. Winning at Millbrae will be a big ask for us but I’m confident we’ll go there and play well and what will be, will be.
“Our games are always physical encounters, with the Bulls being a real challenge on both sides of the ball. Their set-piece is strong, and we will need to be at our best in scrum and maul to allow us to control field position and give us a good foothold in the game away from home.
“I’m pretty proud of the group already whether we win the final or not. They’ve backed up that Championship win, where we came from behind, and caught a few people napping from that point of view. We’ve been able to show that that wasn’t a fluke.
"We’ve been one of the most consistent teams over the last 16 or 17 months. That’s been the most pleasing thing for me. We’ve got to just play our game in the final and show what we can do. I’m looking forward to it – it should be a great game.”
Bulls head coach Pat MacArthur is also relishing the prospect of leading his players out for one last Super Series rodeo.
“Concluding the Sprint and Super Series with a thrilling final at Millbrae against Stirling Wolves is truly a testament to the team’s dedication throughout,” he said.
“The players work tirelessly for moments like these, dedicating themselves in training to improve week after week.
“The commitment displayed by all, including those who may have known their involvement in this game was limited, has been a driving force behind our preparation.
"With the championship final fresh in our minds, we are aware of the Wolves physicality and work at the breakdown, they also have so dangerous runners.
“Having played in four finals the players know the importance of performing at our best. The support from our fans is evident. We are determined to make our supporters, the club, and ourselves proud in what will be the Bulls’ last rodeo.”
The teams
Ayrshire Bulls: Luca Bardelli; Tom Glendinning, Jamie Shedden, Bobby Beattie, Mason Cullen; Richie Simpson, Reiss Cullen; Jamie Drummond, James Malcolm, Calvin Henderson, Ed Bloodworth, Rory Jackson, Grant Stewart, Lewis McNamara, Blair Macpherson (c).
Replacements: Alex McGuire, Rhodri Tanner, Craig Miller, Oscar Baird, Ryan Sweeney, Fergus Johnston, Chris Elliot, Tim Brown.
Stirling Wolves: Glenn Bryce; Mikey Heron, Ryan Southern, Marcus Holden (c), Ross McKnight; Craig Jackson, Kyle McGhie; Liam Quarm, Joe Roberts, Marius Tamosaitis, James Pow, Jare Oguntibeju, Ruaridh Knott, Shaun Macdonald, Ed Hasdell.
Replacements: Bryce Robertson, Ali Rogers, JP Phelan Archie Clarke, Macenzzie Duncan, Eric Davey, Euan Cunningham, Calum Ferrie.
Referee: David Sutherland
Read the rules here