The Lichties will kick-off the 2013-14 season with a home match against Ayr United, it has been announced.

THE Scottish Rugby Union has declared 2013 to be a year of development at Test level and that international results will not affect the future of coach Scott Johnson.

SCOTT Johnson set himself a number of clear targets for the summer tour to South Africa and as well as testing out the strength in depth was a desire to instil new belief in Scottish rugby.

SCOTT Johnson has dismissed suggestions that his Scotland squad were soft against Samoa and suffered the consequences both in a first Test defeat to the South Sea Islanders and a squad floored by injury.

Men’s First Team

There was a change to the format of the Arbroath and District Athletic Club Saturday competitions at the weekend.

With the weather settling down, there has been some good fishing at Lintrathen. The fish are just under the surface and have been taking a range of flies on floating lines.

Abbey BC

At the weekend 10 St Thomas swimmers were in action taking part in the Dundee City Aquatics Stars of the Future meet.

Angus Darts Academy player 11-year-old Rebecca Graham from Arbroath is the new Scottish Youth Singles Champion 2013.

The Arbroath Summer Pool League continues for a third year with a total of 32 players competing to become Summer League Champion.

Arbroath manager Paul Sheerin has solved the problem of finding a new right-back but his attentions may have to turn to the left-back position.

SCOTLAND have tasked Scott Johnson and Sean Lineen to scour the world and unearth new Scottish talent, but judging by the latest round of debutants selected for Test duty the programme is already working.

Arbroath manager Paul Sheerin has confirmed the signing of former Queen’s Park right-back Ricky Little.

THE changing face of South African rugby could not feature a more engaging and quietly ambitious individual than Heyneke Meyer. And the fulfilment this week of a childhood dream will mark another milestone for the Springboks coach.

SCOTLAND prop Jon Welsh talks to The Scotsman’s Chief Rugby Writer David Ferguson at the national side’s training camp in South Africa.

WATCH an exclusive interview with David Denton and Peter Horne, as David Ferguson travels with the Scotland team on their South African tour.

SCOTLAND have been forced to postpone naming their team to face South Africa by 48 hours after Edinburgh prop Geoff Cross became the second player to be ruled out of the summer tour.

Scotland claim they will start as underdogs when they tackle Samoa in Durban tomorrow at the outset of the quadrangular tournament that also features hosts South Africa and Italy.

THE Scotland rugby squad has rallied round prop Ryan Grant after he was again overlooked by the British and Irish Lions coaches and insist it will be their loss and Scots’ gain.