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March 21, 2007

D-Day for pro-rugby in Scotland

Posted by Assistant Editor on March 21, 2007 10:00 PM | 9 comments | Print | E-mail author
The long-term future of the professional game in Scotland is set to be decided at a Scottish Rugby Union board meeting tonight.

As reported in tomorrow's Herald, there are two major issues are on the table:

whether it is sustainable to run three professional teams, and
the availability of suitable facilities.
Every indication is that board members are now aware of the need to give a clear indication on how they see the sport developing over a period of longer than 12 months.

For too long coaches, players and supporters have lived on a year-to-year basis, unsure of whether their team will be in existence for any longer.

In other words, if the Border Reivers are not to be disbanded, it is vital they be told that the SRU is prepared to subsidise them properly for a period of years.

How the board could justify that to themselves in light of the sustained apathy of locals towards the team is hard to imagine, but Frank Hadden, the Scotland coach, has long campaigned on the need to have a minimum of three professional teams.

However, the dynamic of that argument may have changed somewhat, with so many of Scotland's leading players set to be playing outside the country next season.

It may well be that, if a dozen or more front-line contenders for places in the national squad are in exile, as logistically awkward as that may be for the national team management, perhaps two domestic teams are sufficient to give developing talent the room to emerge.

The other major issue, as raised in The Herald on Saturday, is where the fast-improving Glasgow Warriors side will play its games.

As we reported, the SRU has been forced to look outside the city in its contingency planning because of the prospect of Hughenden being unavailable. Since planning permission has yet to be submitted for the west end ground, the hope must be that Hughenden will be available for at least one more season.

Ideally that would be two further seasons, thus allowing time for the proposed redevelopment of Scotstoun to be approved and completed.

The SRU last year withdrew from negotiations to be anchor tenant at the ground that is a key part of Glasgow's Commonwealth Games bid, but pride must be swallowed all round and local issues overcome, because it is surely the best solution.

Certainly there seems to be a growing understanding among politicians at both Scottish Executive and city council level that it is a national disgrace that neither the capital nor Scotland's biggest city has a municipal ground capable of hosting professional rugby.

In that regard, it is also vital that Glasgow Warriors supporters are given rapid reassurance that, if their team is to be moved to Stirling, Falkirk, Perth or anywhere else, it is for the shortest period possible.

While those cities could be better suited to playing host to the third team than Galashiels - it is only the 33rd largest town in Scotland - the SRU knows that, if it is to make professional rugby work, the key to success must lie in the population centres that are Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Posted by alan on March 22, 2007 12:15 AM | Reply to this comment

Surely, it HAS to be Scotstoun!
Go GLASGOW !!!!!

look to the future SRU!

Posted by jamie feg on March 22, 2007 01:08 AM | Reply to this comment

I reckon
1. Ditch the borders team.- quite harsh but get there good players!!

2. Scottish exiles based in London to play in magners or maybe guinness leagues. Love this idea.

3.Keep Glasgow at hughenden. If not definitely Scotstoun. I would never be able to go support them otherwise beig a poor student.

Posted by Colin McD on March 22, 2007 02:39 AM | Reply to this comment

According to the article above Galashiels is the 33rd largest town in Scotland. Who ever wrote the article should remember that the Borders have a population of around 106,352. Glasgow on the other hand have one of Europe's most densely populated cities with a population of around 1,747,060 taking in both the greater Glasgow and surrounding Glasgow urban area. Both teams attendances are on average between 1,000-1,5000. If I were in the SRU I know i'd be a whole lot more concerned about attendances for the future of the pro game in Glasgow rather than down the Borders.

Posted by Gordon on March 22, 2007 08:50 AM | Reply to this comment

Daft argument - if we're worried about crowd proportions the SRU should just move the team to Millport. We might only get attendances of 100 folk, but wow, that's about 20% of the population...

Posted by Hannah on March 22, 2007 07:54 AM | Reply to this comment

They are always going on about Glasgow not having enough support so they must know if they move than we will lose support! Dont think the Borders should go. Edinburgh were bought over last year so does their funding not coming from the guys who own it????????

Posted by royc on March 23, 2007 01:57 PM | Reply to this comment

Hannah, the SRU still puts money into Embra, maybe as much as 1m a year and is I gather committed to doing so for the 6 years of the franchise. So the SRU are effectively funding two and a half teams at the moment.

Posted by highlandbrave75 on March 23, 2007 07:18 PM | Reply to this comment

If Glasgow and the Borders were franchised the SRU agreed on all three pro sides was to be part funding of £1 million a year.

If Glasgow had have been franchised instead of Edinburgh then they too would have received £1 million.

Just the same as if all three were franchised out then each side would still be allocated £1 million from the SRU.

Posted by Hannah on March 23, 2007 04:29 PM | Reply to this comment

thats stupid. I am a cusiter fan so that is part of the reason that I dont want the borders to go but why shouldnt they be allowed to keep their team. the guys who bought over Edinburgh should be paying the SRu money for letting them use the stadium!

Posted by royc on March 26, 2007 05:12 PM | Reply to this comment

The guys who took over Embra are pumping in about 1.5m a year there! What do we want, blood?

Scottish Rugby is pretty fortunate to have found some sponsors, what with the poor crowd turnouts and results. Simple fact is there ain't enough money in the kitty to pay for 3 teams. On our budget and with the Carruthers' contribution, there's about enough to fund two teams, though with considerably smaller playing and marketing budgets than nearly all our competitors. A Pro team costs 4m+, a lot more if you're Leicester, Biarritz etc. We have half that money per team in Scotland.

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