Pro clubs hampered by SRU's lamentable lack of vision

IT'S likely that the Heineken Cup will offer as much excitement as the Rugby World Cup. There will also quite probably be more entertaining rugby on show. Unfortunately, the chances of either Scottish team reaching the knockout stages, for the first time since Edinburgh did so in 2003-04, are slim. Some would say "slim" is a bit over-optimistic. This is another measure of the SRU's lamentable failure to develop and promote professional rugby.

Edinburgh are in Pool 6 with Leicester, Toulouse and Leinster. It would be a near-miracle if they came through. They will do well if they win a couple of home matches, extraordinarily well if they were also to beat Leinster in Dublin. In the confusio...