Former Scotland international Ally Donaldson has died aged 60, the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) has confirmed. The Edinburgh fly-half played a major role in the development of rugby talent in Scotland after his playing days were over.
Donaldson served as director of rugby at George Watson's College in Edinburgh for 36 years and was the former head coach of Currie. He was presented with a retrospective international Test cap after touring the South Pacific with Scotland in 1993.
Tributes paid to 'cracking human being'
Scottish Rugby president Keith Wallace said: "His death has come as a huge shock and our thoughts and prayers are with Ally's family, friends, all at Currie Rugby Club and the wider rugby community."
Roy Mack, a former colleague at George Watson's College, also paid tribute: "Ally was a cracking human being, an absolute 100% guy. He would routinely go the extra mile and then some, when it came to helping young players."
An Edinburgh Rugby spokesperson said: "Everyone at Edinburgh Rugby is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former club captain, Ally Donaldson. Ally made his debut for Edinburgh in 1992, becoming cap #911, and was part of the club's first professional squad in 1996 before being named captain the following year. A giant of the game in the capital, Ally went on to become a stalwart of coaching at Currie and Director of Rugby at George Watson's College, playing a key role in developing so many of the players who went on to wear the castle on their chest."
Donaldson leaves behind his wife, four daughters and three grandsons.
Fineanganofo extends Hurricanes stay
All Black debutant Fehi Fineanganofo will remain in New Zealand for another year, delaying his move to Premiership side Newcastle Red Bulls. The 24-year-old has agreed a deal with NZR to remain with the Hurricanes until next year so that he can compete in the Rugby World Cup.
He has penned a one-year extension, with the blessing of Newcastle, to stay Down Under with Bay of Plenty and the Hurricanes. He will now head to the north east of England on a three-year deal from 2027.
Newcastle Red Bulls' sporting general manager Neil McIlroy said: "We are fully supportive of Fehi's desire to represent his country at Rugby World Cup 2027, which marries with our own philosophy of aiming high and enabling our athletes to achieve their ambitions. Fehi's arrival in 2027, with additional international experience that will only add to his already-devastating qualities as a top-class winger, is another statement of intent around where this club is going."
Fineanganofo said: "I'm excited to be staying in New Zealand with the Hurricanes for next season. I'm proud of what we achieved last season, and I'm looking forward to helping defend the Super Rugby title while continuing to put my hand up for the All Blacks ahead of the Rugby World Cup."
Gloucester and Saracens make their mark
Dewi Lake said Gloucester wanted to lay down a marker at Exeter on the opening day of the Premiership season. The Wales captain, who has also been given the armband at Kingsholm, scored a brace in an inspirational display at Sandy Park as George Skivington's men walked away 45-24 winners - their first win at the venue for 12 years.
Lake told BBC Radio Gloucestershire: "We spoke about laying a marker down, we spoke about mindset a lot of the week, we spoke about what we wanted to do and I think we delivered that. The boys haven't done it in 12 years winning here, in record fashion with the scoreboard as well, but the important thing is it's not one and done for us. That's the standard for us every week, that's the marker we want to leave on the league."
Saracens head coach Joe Shaw believes his team's dramatic victory at Leicester Tigers was down to them staying cool despite the adversity they faced. In their opening Gallagher Premiership fixture of the season, Sarries lost centre Olly Hartley to an arm injury early in proceedings and flanker Nick Isiekwe to a 20-minute red card in the second half. They also had to fight from behind twice against a fired-up Leicester, with Rotimi Segun's 73rd-minute try deciding a breathless contest at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
Shaw said: "The boys very calmly worked out what to do – Elliot Daly played four positions today and did very well in all of them. Then you get hit with the 20-minute red card at a place like this, where it's been tit-for-tat. If you want to be in the top four, you've got to be able to keep your cool, work things out and I think in the last six or seven minutes – where we had 15 men and they had 14 men – were crucial."
Leicester head coach Geoff Parling said: "They started well but we got ourselves back in the game and did lots of good things. I just think in the end our inaccuracy and failure to convert pressure moments is what hurt us."
