0:00:22 > 0:00:25Hello and welcome to the June edition of Sport Nation,
0:00:25 > 0:00:27packed full with the best of Scottish sport.
0:00:27 > 0:00:31Tonight - we have rugby, golf, more on the London Olympics,
0:00:31 > 0:00:33and a new one for us - speedway.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36Coming up - did you hear the one about the Dutchman
0:00:36 > 0:00:39playing rugby for Scotland in Fiji?
0:00:39 > 0:00:43I genuinely believe that if someone is proud to play for a country
0:00:43 > 0:00:46and is going to give it their all, then they should.
0:00:46 > 0:00:51Our best golfers talk to us about the summer season ahead.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54We meet the Olympic hopeful in badminton,
0:00:54 > 0:00:56who has the Celtic manager as a fan.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59Not long after I won my world medal,
0:00:59 > 0:01:02I went along to Celtic and I met him and he was really nice.
0:01:02 > 0:01:07A special report into the financial troubles at speedway's Glasgow Tigers.
0:01:09 > 0:01:11And a Scottish rugby legend,
0:01:11 > 0:01:16Chris Paterson faces up to life beyond playing the game.
0:01:16 > 0:01:21I'll have to schedule that in at some point, a training session, or go for a run,
0:01:21 > 0:01:25so that was the first sign I thought actually, things are going to be different.
0:01:27 > 0:01:28But first, how about this?
0:01:28 > 0:01:31There's a man touring with the Scottish rugby squad,
0:01:31 > 0:01:35but he's Dutch and he doesn't qualify to play.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37But by next week, he'll be a Scot,
0:01:37 > 0:01:39and he can freely pull on the blue jersey.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42His name is Tim Visser. He plays for Edinburgh,
0:01:42 > 0:01:45and he qualifies because he's lived here for three years.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49Yes, Visser is touring Australia, Fiji and Samoa,
0:01:49 > 0:01:53and now Scottish rugby is scouring the world for more non-Scots
0:01:53 > 0:01:55to play under the same rules.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58Eligibility has always been a hazy subject.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02If you believe that you have to be born in a country to play for it,
0:02:02 > 0:02:07then I was never eligible to play here at Murrayfield.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09I was born in Borneo, lived in Malaysia till I was ten,
0:02:09 > 0:02:13spent my days feeding monkeys, climbing frames
0:02:13 > 0:02:17and being dressed in improbably baggy shorts.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20But somehow, I'm proud to say, this happened.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24Charged down by Beattie.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26Clear run into the line. Beattie! The levelling score!
0:02:26 > 0:02:30That's in black and white because it was ancient history.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32Let's come slap bang up to date.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35You were born in Holland but you're about to play for Scotland.
0:02:35 > 0:02:36How come you qualify?
0:02:36 > 0:02:39Since I've lived in Edinburgh for three years,
0:02:39 > 0:02:43I qualify on the residency rule on the 12th June this summer.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45Are you Scottish?
0:02:45 > 0:02:49Er... Not from birth, but I do feel very Scottish, yes.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52Explain that to me, how do you feel Scottish?
0:02:52 > 0:02:57I've lived here for three years now and that is a long time.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00I love the people here. I love the country.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03Everyone's been really friendly.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06They've made me feel at home right from the start.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10You know, I would feel very proud to represent them.
0:03:13 > 0:03:17There is obviously the cases where people haven't been wholehearted
0:03:17 > 0:03:21and played for Scotland and then left only a year later.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23You know, that's not my intention.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25I've been here for three years,
0:03:25 > 0:03:28I'm going to be here for another three years at least.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30I'm on a contract till 2015.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33I do... I do think this is my home now.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36There's always going to be two sides to the story,
0:03:36 > 0:03:39and people will think whatever they want to think,
0:03:39 > 0:03:44and I genuinely believe if someone is proud to play for a country
0:03:44 > 0:03:46and will give it their all, then they should,
0:03:46 > 0:03:49as long as they obviously qualify on some sort of rule,
0:03:49 > 0:03:51and the residency seems to be the rule,
0:03:51 > 0:03:53so there's not much more I can do.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56That's the story. So what do people think?
0:03:56 > 0:03:59Here we are in Edinburgh, a stone's throw from where Tim Visser lives.
0:03:59 > 0:04:04David Barnes, should we as a country be going abroad to find players
0:04:04 > 0:04:06who might qualify to play for Scotland in three years?
0:04:06 > 0:04:11I would say not. I think it's a fairly sad route to go down.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14I'm all for a guy like Tim Visser paying his dues in Scotland
0:04:14 > 0:04:16and being selected on merit,
0:04:16 > 0:04:20but hunting people out is a completely different kettle of fish.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22The rule's there to be used.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26Other countries use it, so why don't we take advantage and use it?
0:04:26 > 0:04:29If there's players out there who are willing to come to Scotland
0:04:29 > 0:04:33and give their time to become a resident, then pick them.
0:04:33 > 0:04:39To compete with the best, you've got to use every advantage you can get,
0:04:39 > 0:04:41and if that means looking around the world,
0:04:41 > 0:04:44then that's what I would expect our national team to do.
0:04:46 > 0:04:52In 1990, Sean Lineen became the most famous kilted Kiwi of all time.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54He was part of a Grand Slam-winning team.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57A chance for Lineen!
0:04:57 > 0:05:02It's a try! The whistle has gone! The arm is up!
0:05:02 > 0:05:07And Sean Lineen has scored his first try for Scotland!
0:05:07 > 0:05:09So how does he think Tim Visser will feel
0:05:09 > 0:05:12if he pulls on the Scottish jersey later this summer?
0:05:12 > 0:05:16He'll know the anthem I'm sure, Flower Of Scotland,
0:05:16 > 0:05:19and he'll get out there and he could be an outstanding winger
0:05:19 > 0:05:20for Scotland for years to come.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23How weird was the whole thing for you though at the time?
0:05:23 > 0:05:26Well, I think obviously having played club rugby in Scotland,
0:05:26 > 0:05:29it's changed now, you've got the pro teams.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31In the old days, you got to play against the other clubs
0:05:31 > 0:05:34like Stirling County, Melrose, you got your head kicked in
0:05:34 > 0:05:36every time you went down to the Borders,
0:05:36 > 0:05:39so you had to really be better than the other players in your position,
0:05:39 > 0:05:41right around the country,
0:05:41 > 0:05:43so it was a real privilege to play for Scotland,
0:05:43 > 0:05:47because you knew there were other guys behind you that wanted your jersey,
0:05:47 > 0:05:50and this Kiwi that had come from the middle of nowhere
0:05:50 > 0:05:52and suddenly, I'm playing for Scotland,
0:05:52 > 0:05:54so I had to make sure I didn't let people down.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58Lineen was part of a Scottish bloodline
0:05:58 > 0:06:01but that was then, and this is now.
0:06:01 > 0:06:06Visser's the first of many, as Scotland now scour the world
0:06:06 > 0:06:09for foreign players - project signings.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13Before eligibility could be defined by residency,
0:06:13 > 0:06:18Jim Calder helped Scotland win the Grand Slam in 1984.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21He's now chairman of Edinburgh, and I asked him to explain
0:06:21 > 0:06:23this hunt for foreign targets.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27Tim's been an standing player for Edinburgh for the last three years
0:06:27 > 0:06:31and he's been top try scorer in the RaboDirect every season
0:06:31 > 0:06:34and Edinburgh's not been in the top performing teams,
0:06:34 > 0:06:37so I think from both Edinburgh and Scotland's point of view,
0:06:37 > 0:06:40to have someone like Tim coming through is just fantastic.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43I know that Edinburgh now, you have signed a player
0:06:43 > 0:06:46on what's called a project term. Tell me about that.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50Sure. This is a tight-head prop called WP Nel.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52In two years' time,
0:06:52 > 0:06:56he will qualify for Scotland under the eligibility rules.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59On the way through, he'll contribute hugely to Edinburgh,
0:06:59 > 0:07:04but crucially at the end of that period, he will be available to play for Scotland.
0:07:04 > 0:07:09He's 25, 26, tight-head prop, so they come to their best
0:07:09 > 0:07:12at the age of 28, 29, 30, and if it all works out,
0:07:12 > 0:07:16Scotland will get a good three or four seasons out of WP Nel.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20Will there be more people brought in on what you call project signings?
0:07:20 > 0:07:24For Scotland to compete in years to come, we have to do this.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27I don't see down the line there'll be seven or eight of them.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30I do see each team, Edinburgh and Glasgow, having maybe two or three.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33To be good enough to play for Edinburgh and Glasgow in years to come
0:07:33 > 0:07:36will mean you will be good enough to make a difference at international level
0:07:36 > 0:07:39and I don't think we've had that up until now.
0:07:39 > 0:07:40So there you have it.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43We've had South Africans, Australians and New Zealanders
0:07:43 > 0:07:46playing for this country, and we're about to have a Dutchman,
0:07:46 > 0:07:49but the big difference is now we're looking for players to come here
0:07:49 > 0:07:52and stay for three years on the off-chance that one day,
0:07:52 > 0:07:55they'll be good enough to play for Scotland,
0:07:55 > 0:07:58and all the SRU's doing is playing by the rules.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05The world's best golfer says he can't wait to get back to Scotland
0:08:05 > 0:08:07to defend his Scottish Open title.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11Yes, Luke Donald, one of a fleet of top-class golfers coming here
0:08:11 > 0:08:14for the summer swing, as Phil Goodlad reports.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21The galleries are growing.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25The world's best are in town.
0:08:26 > 0:08:31And the sun is out. Welcome to the golfing summer.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40At this time of year, Wentworth is where the action is.
0:08:40 > 0:08:41The flagship PGA championship,
0:08:41 > 0:08:45attracting the cream of the European tour,
0:08:45 > 0:08:47all ready to dazzle us with their skills,
0:08:47 > 0:08:49both on and off the course.
0:08:49 > 0:08:53I think this tends to be the start of the bigger tournaments I suppose,
0:08:53 > 0:08:57and we've also played some in the Middle East, every week now,
0:08:57 > 0:08:59good prize money, but this is the real start.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02While the traditional golfing season here is just getting under way,
0:09:02 > 0:09:05players on the worldwide European tour
0:09:05 > 0:09:08have almost reached the midway point in their campaign.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10It's a good time for European golf.
0:09:10 > 0:09:15A celebration of how good European golf has become lately.
0:09:15 > 0:09:19We hold a couple of the Major champions,
0:09:19 > 0:09:22numbers one, two and three in the world, we have the Ryder Cup.
0:09:22 > 0:09:23There's a lot to celebrate.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27And it's a good time also for this man.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30At 43, Paul Lawrie is in the form of his life.
0:09:30 > 0:09:34Outside the world's top 250 just 18 months ago,
0:09:34 > 0:09:39the 1999 Open champion now sits inside the top 30.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42I'm very focused on what I'm trying to do.
0:09:42 > 0:09:43The Ryder Cup's a big part of that.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45I'm just trying to play every week as I can.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47Not for a second am I thinking that I'm in there yet
0:09:47 > 0:09:51so you just play one week at a time as hard as you can.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53The Ryder Cup's at the end of September.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55Do you have that time off?
0:09:55 > 0:09:58No, I don't have anything in my diary that far ahead.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01I'm not organised to be fair, not just because it's Ryder Cup.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03We'll wait and see what happens.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07The transatlantic battle for Samuel Ryder's famous trophy
0:10:07 > 0:10:09looms large over the golfing summer.
0:10:09 > 0:10:14Jose Maria Olazabal's quest to lead his European men to defend their crown,
0:10:14 > 0:10:20and who better to turn to for advice than Mr Ryder Cup himself?
0:10:20 > 0:10:23I've been speaking to Jose Maria, he's just staying ahead of me here
0:10:23 > 0:10:26and we're going to have a chat afterwards
0:10:26 > 0:10:28about not things that went well, that's easy,
0:10:28 > 0:10:31it's the things that I thought were going to work out
0:10:31 > 0:10:35that somehow didn't and I don't want him to make the same mistakes again.
0:10:35 > 0:10:40The Americans are a forceful team now and they're a very proud nation
0:10:40 > 0:10:41and they want it back.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45If we can win the Ryder Cup away from home, it'll be a fantastic achievement.
0:10:45 > 0:10:49Jealous? You should be, because this is part of golf's crown jewels,
0:10:49 > 0:10:52and while traditionally, the battle for the claret jug
0:10:52 > 0:10:54is the highlight of the golfing summer,
0:10:54 > 0:11:00here in Scotland there are two rather important trophies to be played for.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04It takes something special to come back from the dead.
0:11:04 > 0:11:09I've been resurrected back here today to show you these bonnie trophies.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13But Ayrshire hosting the amateur championship and Senior Open
0:11:13 > 0:11:18this summer is enough for Old Tom Morris to make an appearance.
0:11:18 > 0:11:23Golf's father figure passing on his knowledge to the stars of tomorrow.
0:11:23 > 0:11:27Before the amateur championship, Great Britain and Ireland's amateur ladies are in Nairn
0:11:27 > 0:11:31hoping to beat their American rivals to win the Curtis Cup
0:11:31 > 0:11:35and in August, the Johnnie Walker championship at Gleneagles
0:11:35 > 0:11:38is always a date to look forward to.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42But the highlight of the golfing summer is a trip to the Highlands.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45The Scottish Open hoping to make all the right headlines
0:11:45 > 0:11:48after THAT weather 12 months ago.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51Not a great week weather-wise but for me,
0:11:51 > 0:11:54I was the one who walked away happy
0:11:54 > 0:11:58and I had a great final round there, and I'm excited to go back.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00I've heard they've done a few changes to the course,
0:12:00 > 0:12:03lengthened it and added a few more bunkers.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05I'm excited to go defend my title there.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08It's been an uncertain 12 months for the event
0:12:08 > 0:12:11that Donald won so convincingly.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14Losing its sponsor led to rumours that the Scottish Open would move
0:12:14 > 0:12:19from Castle Stuart, or disappear from the golfing calendar altogether
0:12:19 > 0:12:22but that's all changed now that a new backer has been secured.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25We're delighted to go back because it's the perfect -
0:12:25 > 0:12:28Phil Mickelson said, Darren Clarke said, many players say,
0:12:28 > 0:12:30it's the perfect preparation for an Open championship.
0:12:30 > 0:12:35It's got its date in the calendar and if we hadn't kept it going,
0:12:35 > 0:12:40we'd have possibly seen that crucial week going out of Britain again.
0:12:40 > 0:12:41For people watching this,
0:12:41 > 0:12:44you can tell them that the Scottish Open will be at Castle Stuart
0:12:44 > 0:12:47the week before the Open championship for the foreseeable future?
0:12:47 > 0:12:48Absolutely.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52So the Scottish open at Castle Stuart is here to stay.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56The stand-out date in a very busy Scottish golfing summer.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00And so it's time to sit back, relax and take it all in.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04After all, what's summer for if it's not to watch golf?
0:13:10 > 0:13:15There are just 52 days until the opening ceremony of London 2012.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18Words that will bring butterflies to many of the Scots
0:13:18 > 0:13:21who have qualified for the Olympic Games.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25Among them, badminton medal contender, Imogen Bankier.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28Rhona's been to meet her and her English partner Chris Adcock
0:13:28 > 0:13:30at the home of the sport in England.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42This is Milton Keynes in leafy Buckinghamshire -
0:13:42 > 0:13:44home of Badminton England,
0:13:44 > 0:13:47and home for now of Scotland's Imogen Bankier.
0:13:49 > 0:13:54In her bid to be the best, Bankier moved here over five years ago.
0:13:54 > 0:13:59Training is intensive as pressure builds towards London 2012.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02That's a typical mixed doubles session
0:14:02 > 0:14:04so I'm on court with my partner, Chris,
0:14:04 > 0:14:07and we're playing against another mixed doubles pair
0:14:07 > 0:14:10and a coach as well, so we do a series of practices.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14It's a lot harder with two but it's good
0:14:14 > 0:14:16cos when you then go against two people,
0:14:16 > 0:14:19it seems as if there's a massive court and there's so many gaps.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22Bankier and Adcock established themselves as big hitters
0:14:22 > 0:14:26by winning silver at last summer's World Championships.
0:14:26 > 0:14:31Their coach believes an Olympic medal is well within their grasp.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34They've beaten the world ranked top pair and the world champions twice
0:14:34 > 0:14:37this season, so the potential is definitely there.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41I think the Olympics is a very edgy game for anyone
0:14:41 > 0:14:44so there's going to be a lot of upsets, I believe.
0:14:45 > 0:14:46It can be quite busy.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48It's quite a lively place to be,
0:14:48 > 0:14:51and we've got about 30 people at the moment staying,
0:14:51 > 0:14:55training full time as part of the GB programme.
0:14:55 > 0:15:01So what we're walking over to now is the accommodation block,
0:15:01 > 0:15:05where about 15 of us stay full time.
0:15:05 > 0:15:06Obviously we've got our room here,
0:15:06 > 0:15:09but then we eat all our meals in the badminton centre.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11They've got a nice cafeteria upstairs,
0:15:11 > 0:15:14and they provide us with breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17This is it. The Ritz suite.
0:15:17 > 0:15:18'It is a bubble.'
0:15:18 > 0:15:20You're here all the time, 24 hours a day,
0:15:20 > 0:15:22and you can't get away from it.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25That's maybe one of the downsides of being here,
0:15:25 > 0:15:30is the commute and finding that work or badminton-to-life balance.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32I don't regret my decision at all.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34I think it's essential that I'm down here
0:15:34 > 0:15:38because Chris is English and, yeah, I wouldn't be where I am now
0:15:38 > 0:15:40if it weren't for the GB programme.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42If it weren't for the English system,
0:15:42 > 0:15:45which I've come in and taken advantage of.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47Now, your dad is, of course, Ian Bankier, the Celtic chairman.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51So how many heated discussions about media coverage of badminton,
0:15:51 > 0:15:55as opposed to football, have gone on in your house?
0:15:55 > 0:15:59Actually not as many heated discussions as you'd think!
0:15:59 > 0:16:01Obviously I'm from a minority.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04It's considered a minority sport, badminton.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06It's so fast and it's so good to see live,
0:16:06 > 0:16:07you hope that people will watch us
0:16:07 > 0:16:10and be really inspired, and then take up the sport.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14Maybe he can make a difference and open peoples' eyes
0:16:14 > 0:16:15and we'll get some extra support.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17I don't know. Anything would be good.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20Do you go back and watch Celtic games at the weekend?
0:16:20 > 0:16:22I try to. I've been to a couple.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24I've been lucky enough to be in
0:16:24 > 0:16:25the director's box for a couple
0:16:25 > 0:16:28and I've met Neil Lennon and the rest of it.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30It's been a really fun experience,
0:16:30 > 0:16:33but recently I went with a couple of friends
0:16:33 > 0:16:36and we were just in the crowd, and it was so much better!
0:16:36 > 0:16:40I didn't want to say that, but it was just really fun!
0:16:40 > 0:16:43Does Neil Lennon know what you do? Did they show an interest?
0:16:43 > 0:16:46Yeah, actually, I met him
0:16:46 > 0:16:48not long after I won my world medal.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52I went along to Celtic and I met him and he was really friendly and nice.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54My dad says he asks after me, but I said,
0:16:54 > 0:16:57"Well, that's because he's trying to impress the chairman!"
0:16:57 > 0:16:59But, yeah, he seemed like a really nice guy,
0:16:59 > 0:17:03and I think it's brilliant to know that people ask after you,
0:17:03 > 0:17:05and that's what you want for your sport.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07In the Team GB badminton handbook,
0:17:07 > 0:17:11Chris says that his ambition is to win an Olympic gold medal.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15And in yours, you say you want to win an Olympic medal.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18Oh! I should definitely change that to gold!
0:17:18 > 0:17:19Yeah, we both said...
0:17:19 > 0:17:20I need to update that!
0:17:20 > 0:17:23We both said that we want an Olympic medal,
0:17:23 > 0:17:26but now gold seems so much more realistic to us.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29We've beaten the world number one pair and the world champions.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31We've beaten them twice now.
0:17:31 > 0:17:32And we finished the season
0:17:32 > 0:17:33ranked 10 in the world.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36And that's an accurate reflection of where we are.
0:17:36 > 0:17:38But I think at the home games, with the support,
0:17:38 > 0:17:40and with the whole occasion,
0:17:40 > 0:17:42I think we can really push that extra mile.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45I think we can get another fantastic result.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49Now what has one gear, no brakes
0:17:49 > 0:17:53and goes from 0 to 60 faster than a Formula 1 car?
0:17:53 > 0:17:55Well, the answer is a speedway motorbike,
0:17:55 > 0:17:57and there are two teams in Scotland.
0:17:57 > 0:17:58And for one of those teams,
0:17:58 > 0:18:00this last year has brought some mixed fortunes.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03David McDade has been finding out.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07MUSIC: "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns N' Roses.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40CHEERING
0:18:43 > 0:18:48Every Sunday, Ashfield Stadium in Glasgow hosts the thrills...
0:18:48 > 0:18:51Come on, James!
0:18:51 > 0:18:52..and spills...
0:18:54 > 0:18:58- Look how many of them fell down! - HE LAUGHS
0:18:58 > 0:18:59..of speedway.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01APPLAUSE
0:19:01 > 0:19:03It's the home of the Glasgow Tigers,
0:19:03 > 0:19:06and they draw nearly 700 fans each week,
0:19:06 > 0:19:10including stars of the small screen.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13Just the smell of the engine and the fuel, you know.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15And the noise.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18And I forget, every time you drive near the stadium,
0:19:18 > 0:19:20you can hear them doing warm-up laps.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22You get this excitement. There's nothing quite like it.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25No other one thing makes me feel like that.
0:19:25 > 0:19:30The team's been going for nearly seven decades,
0:19:30 > 0:19:33and they've just had one of their best years yet.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36That's the Premier Division trophy from last season.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40The Scottish Cup from last season.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42The Summer Cup from last season.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44The Super Cup! The Super Cup! >
0:19:44 > 0:19:46And the Premier League Pairs from last season,
0:19:46 > 0:19:50when we were a very successful side.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52But sporting triumphs have been tempered
0:19:52 > 0:19:56by financial adversity,
0:19:56 > 0:20:00at the venue they share with the local junior football team.
0:20:00 > 0:20:06We'll just walk round to behind the goal area.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08'We weren't hours from going out of business,
0:20:08 > 0:20:11'but we were maybe weeks.'
0:20:11 > 0:20:14We find ourselves with some accumulated debt,
0:20:14 > 0:20:19which we've been unable to pay off as yet.
0:20:19 > 0:20:25The debt came about as a consequence of changing the shape of the track.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27The track here was a bit tight,
0:20:27 > 0:20:30so by widening it, it gave them a greater expanse to race on,
0:20:30 > 0:20:34which would lead to more passing and more excitement.
0:20:34 > 0:20:39The track slopes down quite substantially.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43The rains that fell came down, flooded the park constantly.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46Caused a lot of flooding
0:20:46 > 0:20:48and we had to make pitch changes.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51We had to put drains in.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53We're not yet out of the woods.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55I would sum it up this way,
0:20:55 > 0:20:58by saying the patient is still in hospital,
0:20:58 > 0:21:00but the patient is out of the critical situation.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02It's an institution in the city.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05It's one of the longest sporting institutions.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07Well, there's an emotional tie.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09There's also a loyalty,
0:21:09 > 0:21:13and there's also not wanting to let fans down in any way,
0:21:13 > 0:21:16by having to close the club.
0:21:16 > 0:21:17And it's clear that's something
0:21:17 > 0:21:22the team's ardent followers are eager to avoid.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25It's a big thing for our family. We're here every Sunday.
0:21:25 > 0:21:26It's something we all do together,
0:21:26 > 0:21:29and we'd be devastated if the Tigers went out of existence.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31It would be a disaster!
0:21:31 > 0:21:36I don't know what any of us would do on a Sunday.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38A really big part of our lives would be missing, I think.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40One year we weren't in business,
0:21:40 > 0:21:43and it was the most miserable year we've ever had.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45It was 1996? '95? And it was terrible.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47So we don't want to do that again.
0:21:47 > 0:21:48A large or a medium?
0:21:48 > 0:21:53The target sum for safety is around £30,000.
0:21:53 > 0:21:58And the fans are doing their bit to boost the club's coffers.
0:21:58 > 0:21:59I was asked to be chair of the fighting fund,
0:21:59 > 0:22:02and we've six people on the committee.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04We've been working at a Rider Of The Night.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07Every Sunday we'll get some volunteers to go round
0:22:07 > 0:22:11after heat nine, asking people if they want to vote for
0:22:11 > 0:22:13Glasgow Tigers' Rider Of The Night.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16Half the money goes to the rider with the most votes,
0:22:16 > 0:22:18and the other half goes to the fighting fund.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21Everybody's trying to keep us going.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23And we need it. Yep.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25£900 to the fighting fund. Well done!
0:22:25 > 0:22:30CHEERING AND HORNS
0:22:30 > 0:22:33This is another major help today
0:22:33 > 0:22:35and it's great that the fans are mucking in
0:22:35 > 0:22:37in our hour of need, so to speak.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54Now we all know that John is a bit of a rugby legend.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56But when it comes to breaking records,
0:22:56 > 0:22:58this next chap tops the lot.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01Chris Paterson has hung up his boots,
0:23:01 > 0:23:03but leaves behind a remarkable career.
0:23:03 > 0:23:07Yes, he's the record cap holder with 109 international appearances,
0:23:07 > 0:23:10and the highest scorer, 809 points.
0:23:10 > 0:23:11Not bad for a wee guy!
0:23:11 > 0:23:16Rhona caught up with him just after his last competitive appearance.
0:23:16 > 0:23:21MUSIC: "Time to Say Goodbye" by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman
0:23:24 > 0:23:26I just want to take you back, first of all,
0:23:26 > 0:23:28to your last competitive match.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30Describe your emotions.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33I don't think you ever know how exactly you're going to feel
0:23:33 > 0:23:35until the final whistle goes.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38But then, as the kick-off grew closer, it was,
0:23:38 > 0:23:40"In a couple of hours, that's going to be it."
0:23:40 > 0:23:42And you wait with a wee bit of anticipation
0:23:42 > 0:23:44to see how you're going to feel.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47Allan Jacobsen came up to me in warm-up and said,
0:23:47 > 0:23:48in his own special way,
0:23:48 > 0:23:51"This will be the last time we ever work together."
0:23:51 > 0:23:52That kind of hit home,
0:23:52 > 0:23:54because we'd played together since the '90s.
0:23:54 > 0:23:58I can honestly say I felt really happy when the final whistle went.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02The reception from the crowd here at Murrayfield was fantastic.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04I genuinely retired happy,
0:24:04 > 0:24:06and I think it maybe underlines
0:24:06 > 0:24:09that it was the right decision for me.
0:24:09 > 0:24:10Tim asked me, "So when do you train next?"
0:24:10 > 0:24:13And it hit home at that point. "Actually, I don't know," I said.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15"I'll need to schedule that at some point!"
0:24:15 > 0:24:17A training session, or going to the gym, or a run.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20So that was the first sign.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22I thought, "Actually, things are going to be different."
0:24:22 > 0:24:24It's wee changes like that that sometimes hit home.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27I think, "Actually, I won't play out there again."
0:24:27 > 0:24:31So in the 14 years, best bit, and worst bit?
0:24:31 > 0:24:33Both of them would be 20 minutes apart.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35My hundredth cap in Cardiff.
0:24:35 > 0:24:37When it eventually came,
0:24:37 > 0:24:38and I led the side out at Cardiff,
0:24:38 > 0:24:41it was that feeling of elation and pride.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45COMMENTATOR: Chris Paterson to receive a standing ovation
0:24:45 > 0:24:46from 70-odd thousand here
0:24:46 > 0:24:52in the Millennium Stadium, to mark his 100th cap for Scotland.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54And 20 minutes later,
0:24:54 > 0:24:56I was in the back of an ambulance heading to A&E
0:24:56 > 0:24:58with the worst injury of my career.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01I split my kidney.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04I lacerated and split my kidney and had some internal bleeding.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06Which we didn't know.
0:25:06 > 0:25:07I played on for 20 minutes,
0:25:07 > 0:25:10thinking I'd maybe damaged a rib.
0:25:10 > 0:25:11But it got worse and worse.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14Usually you take knocks in international games
0:25:14 > 0:25:16that wear off and get better as you go.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19But this was getting worse and worse, and eventually,
0:25:19 > 0:25:23I don't know that anyone would have expected what happened.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25I've never seen it on a rugby field before,
0:25:25 > 0:25:28so it was a shock to me when I found out how bad it was.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31'Chris Paterson desperately sad on this momentous occasion.'
0:25:31 > 0:25:33It's funny these happened so close together.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36So best and worst would be about 20 minutes apart.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38And your next challenge is as a coach.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41How ambitious are you, for how far you can go with this?
0:25:41 > 0:25:45Well, I'm an ambitious person, and whatever I set my mind to,
0:25:45 > 0:25:48I've always tried to do as best I can.
0:25:48 > 0:25:49Be as good at it as you can,
0:25:49 > 0:25:52but also get as high up the ladder as possible.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55You know what pressure is like, as in, you've had to place a kick
0:25:55 > 0:25:59that could win a game in front of a capacity crowd here at Murrayfield.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01So that's one kind of pressure.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03What do you think about the pressure you see
0:26:03 > 0:26:05people like Andy Robinson under?
0:26:05 > 0:26:09Frank Hadden had a whole lot of pressure as well.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11It must be worse than playing, because as a player,
0:26:11 > 0:26:12you can have an impact.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14You can make a difference on the field.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16As a coach, you can't.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18You're 30 yards away, sitting there.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21And I know as a player, we've worked on things through a week,
0:26:21 > 0:26:23and the first thing you do on a Saturday
0:26:23 > 0:26:25is the complete opposite to what you worked on.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27A coach can't control that.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30You said that you're ambitious, and that you're competitive.
0:26:30 > 0:26:35So do you have your eye on, hopefully one day, the Scotland job?
0:26:35 > 0:26:38I think I need to learn a whole set of skills.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40I'm starting off something new,
0:26:40 > 0:26:42and starting at the bottom rung of the ladder.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44I'm a competitive person, as you say.
0:26:44 > 0:26:45I want to do the best I can,
0:26:45 > 0:26:48but having only studied PE teaching before turning professional,
0:26:48 > 0:26:50I don't have experience as a coach.
0:26:50 > 0:26:56I don't have experience outside the rugby playing environment.
0:26:56 > 0:26:57So I need to, I suppose,
0:26:57 > 0:26:58learn what I enjoy.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00I might struggle to coach.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03I might really not enjoy it.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06Getting overly frustrated at not being able to get out on the field.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08I might really embrace it, and push myself on.
0:27:08 > 0:27:13But at the moment, I want to commit myself to learn as much as possible.
0:27:13 > 0:27:18Especially this coaching side and do as best I can.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33COMMENTARY: Here comes drop goal. Chris Paterson!
0:27:33 > 0:27:36- He's got it!- He has nailed it!
0:27:40 > 0:27:43Oh, and it's intercepted by Paterson!
0:27:43 > 0:27:45And Paterson goes straight to the line!
0:27:52 > 0:27:54Paterson goes for the drop goal.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56Strikes it cleanly through the posts.
0:28:08 > 0:28:14A simply impeccable kicking display from Chris Paterson.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35The remarkable Chris Paterson.
0:28:35 > 0:28:36Well, that's it for tonight.
0:28:36 > 0:28:40John and I will be on Olympic duty for the next Sport Nation.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42Yes, we're in London for an Olympic special,
0:28:42 > 0:28:45the night before the opening ceremony.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48Make sure you join us for that. That's Thursday 26th July.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50And follow us on Twitter, @bbcsportnation.
0:28:50 > 0:28:54And we're on BBC Radio Scotland every Saturday morning at 9AM.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57- We'll see you next time.- Bye-bye.