Mark Warburton praises Harry Forrester, Kieran Tierney delighted with run of full 90 minute appearances and Kilmarnock defeat plunges them into deeper trouble

Today

• Warburton says Forrester has nothing left to prove to team management as Rangers close in on title and eye up cup clash with Dundee 
• Celtic youngster Tierney draws satisfaction with run of 90 minute appearances
• Kilmarnock in deeper trouble following home defeat to Ross County
• Hearts reach half century of points with win over Inverness
• Hibs slump continues with defeat to Queen of the South
• Appeal means Boyata is clear to meet Dundee
• Rooney injury means chance for Church
• Steve Evans hanging onto job at Leeds United in spite of owner's unhappiness
• Scotland hooker Ford signs new three year deal as Edinburgh deny that they have become a selling club
• UK health experts write open letter calling for rugby to be banned in schools
• Sharp sets sights on World Indoor glory
• WADA chief Reedie warns Kenya that time is running out to sort out doping problems
• Scotland's hockey players lose again but coach pleased with progress

Hailing Harry

Forrester's contribution draws huge praise from manager Mark Warburton

90 minute wonder

Kieran Tierney is delighted that he is proving his stamina

Dons remain fit for title challenge

Injury to Adam Rooney (second from right) means Simon Church (second from left) gets his chance

Committed to the capital

Ross Ford has agreed a new three year deal to extend his stay at Edinburgh

Sharpening up

Lynsey Sharp is pleased she has placed new emphasis on running indoors 

06.06 Radio Scotland sports headlines

Rangers close in on title as Hibs lose again... Kilmarnock looking exposed as defeats offers United the chance to get within five points of them when they meet Aberdeen as leaders Celtic host Dundee tonight... European Championship matches could be played behind closed doors this summer in the event of any terror alerts

07.05 Radio Five Live sports headlines

Spurs could go top of English Premier League for first time since 2009 if they win tonight... West Brom boss Tony Pulis says he hopes Leicester go on to win the title after his side deals them a blow by coming from two behind to claim draw... Aston Villa look doomed after 3-1 home defeat to Everton leads to supporter protests against American owner Randy Lerner... Bournemouth win takes them eight points clear of relegation zone but Norwich defeat to Chelsea takes them into bottom three... Hearts and Ross County claim wins in Scottish Premiership... Middlesbrough miss chance to go top of English Championship... Manu Tuilagi among the England players released to play club rugby this weekend... French investigations into corruption in athletics intensify  

Read all about it... the back pages

The Evening Times leads with Mark Warburton's tribute to Harry Forrester and carries Kieran Tierney's thank you to Celtic friend and rival Emilio Izaguirre for the help he has given him.

The Herald focuses on Rangers' win that takes them closer to the Championship title and has news of Hearts' latest success as well as Dedryck Boyata's appeal against his red card and the claim by Edinburgh rugby bosses that they have not become a selling club.

The National gives its attention to Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes's invitation to Simon Chursh to grab his chance as a result of the injury suffered by Adam Rooney.  

Grandstanding - today's sports comment

On a day when medics have raised some serious questions for the sport rugby comes under the microscope in both The Herald, where Stuart Bathgate looks forward to a keen finish to the Pro12 which looks keenly competitive in its own right in spite of the failure of its teams in Europe this season, while The Rucker asks whether South African referees have it in for Scotland in The National.

Sporting Twitterati

World snooker champion Stuart Bingham takes to social media to express feelings that everyone who has ever played serious sport has suffered:

I APOLOGISE to all the snooker gods out there for whatever I've done! Please can I have my game back! 👼⛪️🙌🙇🙄😂

— Stuart Bingham (@Stuart__Bingham) February 29, 2016

Behind the headlines...

News that medics have lodged an open letter calling for tackling to be banned in schools rugby is just the latest problem for a sport that begins to look like it is under siege.

The recent release of the Hollywood movie 'Concussion' brought increased attention to that subject as more and more former professional players come forward claiming to be suffering from long-term issues as a result of having played the sport. 

For the most part they defend the sport itself, citing the benefits they have also gained from involvement in it, but in the wake of the huge pay-outs that American Football organisers have made to former players, it seems only a matter of time before someone takes the matter to court.

However the problems caused by collisions are by no means confined to head injuries, so whether or not it gets to that stage at elite level there is a major problem at schools level, particularly for under-16s, where a case can be made that even parents have no right to give permission for their children to be placed in what these campaigners would justifiably argue is harm's way.

Thanks for reading. Back tomorrow Kicking Off another day in Scottish sport.