The Offside Line Podcast: The First for Scottish Rugby Podcast By David Barnes & Peter Burns cover art

The Offside Line Podcast: The First for Scottish Rugby

The Offside Line Podcast: The First for Scottish Rugby

By: David Barnes & Peter Burns
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Welcome to the Offside Line Podcast with your hosts Peter Burns and David Barnes.


In this weekly show we examine all aspects of Scottish rugby, from the grassroots level to the Test arena, and discuss the goings on in the wider global game – helped by a regular panel of special guests and featuring exclusive interviews.


David Barnes has worked as a freelance rugby journalist since 2004 covering every level of the game in Scotland for publications including The Herald/Sunday Herald, The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, The Scotsman/Scotland on Sunday/Evening News, The Daily Record, The Daily Mail/Mail on Sunday and The Sun. He established the Offside Line in 2016 to provide high-quality, independent and up-to-date coverage of all aspects of Scottish rugby.


In 2005 he co-authored Jim Renwick’s autobiography, Centre of Excellence, and in 2008 was shortlisted for Rugby Book of the Year at the British Sports Book Awards for The Accies: The Cradle of Scottish Rugby. He is the co-author of the critically acclaimed Behind the Thistle: Playing Rugby for Scotland and Behind the Lions: Playing Rugby for the British & Irish Lions.



Peter Burns is a William Hill Sportsbook of the Year shortlisted author and the managing director of Polaris Publishing Ltd. He has written eleven sports books, including Behind the Thistle: Playing Rugby for Scotland, This is Murrayfield: 100 Years of History in 100 Matches, Behind the Lions: Playing Rugby for the British & Irish Lions, This is Your Everest: The Lions, the Springboks and the Epic Tour of 1997, When Lions Roared: The Lions, the All Blacks and the Legendary Tour of 1971 and The Men in the Arena: England, Australia and the Battle for the 2003 Rugby World Cup. He is also the author of the forthcoming children's book series, Shadow Thieves.


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David Barnes & Peter Burns Politics & Government Rugby
Episodes
  • Dublin despair

    Dublin despair
    Mar 17 2026

    Hello Offside Liners and welcome to this week’s show. Barney and Burnsy pick over the wreckage of Scotland’s Triple Crown hopes in Dublin and review the tournament as a whole (much more positively than this sentence suggests!).


    This episode of The Offside Line is brought to you by Arnold Clark - proud sponsor of the Scotland Men’s national team and a brand that supports Scottish rugby at every level, from grassroots clubs right through to the international stage.

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    Link is Arnold Clark | New & Used Cars For Sale

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show more Show less
    49 mins
  • Incroyable Ecosse

    Incroyable Ecosse
    Mar 9 2026

    Hello Offside Liners and welcome to this week’s show.


    Wow, wow, wow . . . what just happened at Murrayfield and in Rome this weekend? Barney and Burnsy dive deep into it all on this week’s show.


    This episode of The Offside Line Podcast is sponsored by Daemon Power, a sports and performance wellbeing brand inspired by stoic philosophy.

    Their flagship product, VIRIDIS Green Powder, is a UK-made greens supplement containing more than 100 vitamins and minerals, adaptogens, amino acids and antioxidants designed to support energy, recovery, gut health and cognitive focus. The product is also Informed Sport certified, meaning it has been independently tested for use in professional sport.

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    57 mins
  • France preview

    France preview
    Mar 5 2026

    Hello Offside Liners and welcome to this week’s show.


    The teams are out for Saturday’s top of the table clash in the Six Nations between Scotland and France and Barney gives us his immediate feedback after the Scotland press conference (apologies for the sound quality in this part of the show!).


    This episode is sponsored by Breadalbane Finance, a commercial finance broker. Launched in 2013, they work with business owners across Scotland who are looking to borrow money for any purpose. They go to the lender market on your behalf, find the right deal, and make it work for your specific goals. If that sounds like something relevant to you or your business, it's well worth a conversation.

    But the reason we love working with them is simple. Jamie Lindsay and the team genuinely care about Scottish club rugby. They've been clear from day one that this partnership only works if it actually helps clubs and communities, not just their own profile.

    So – nominate your club. Email contact@theoffsideline.com. Get your story told.

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    Show more Show less
    25 mins
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