Clubs out to navigate away from rugby 'black hole'

SOME of Scotland's leading rugby clubs will go into tonight's annual meeting of the governing body at Murrayfield concerned about the domestic game falling into a "black hole" next November.

Standing out on the agenda is a proposal put forward by the SRU chairman and president to suspend the Scottish Cup for a season pending a review of the competitive structure.

The idea has provoked strong feelings, particularly within the independent Forum of Scottish Rugby Supporters organisation which is campaigning for the status quo while chairman Allan Munro and president George Jack argue that what is termed "fixture congestion" has to be eased somehow.

The Evening News has learned, though, of club objections to the change, based on the lack of a prescribed alternative for 2008-09 with concerns likely to come to a head three months into the season. It has been pointed out that, according to the SRU's draft fixture list, no club games are scheduled from November 8-22 (inclusive).

These dates coincide with Scotland's Autumn internationals although, again, it is being highlighted that one fixture kicks off at 5.15pm with another taking place in Aberdeen, leaving it open to debate how many would travel from the Edinburgh/Borders heartlands.

Stan Watt, president of Premiership champions Boroughmuir, summed up concerns, saying: "We put the cup issue to our own AGM and the view was that we want to play games – including in November.

"Mainly for that reason we want the status quo although it could be that three separate cups for Premiership, national league and district sides, would be welcome. That said, the argument was made that Boroughmuir have enjoyed cup trips to places like Cumbernauld where a real sense of occasion has awaited us."

Watsonian president Brian Drinkwater added: "We are strongly in favour of retaining the Scottish Cup in its present form."

It was a similar view at Currie whose president, Brian Buckner, said: "November is one of our best playing months.

"It is after that difficulties can arise with playable pitches. Why take this option away from us?

"That's especially the case as supporters and players alike could find other things to do on a Saturday afternoon. Why run that risk?"

Tomorrow's meeting will take place against the background of an announcement by the SRU of a major increase in funding for the grassroots game.

In a statement, chief executive Gordon McKie revealed that the amount of money allocated to club and grassroots rugby is to increase by £1.3 million – up from £3.734 million to £5 million. McKie said: "I'm delighted to confirm a more than 50 per cent increase in the monies we make available directly through club support and development. We're able to do this because of the significant progress we've made in establishing new commercial relationships in both the private and public sector."

While it might be assumed these revenues could go towards underwriting the cost of Cup trips, another reason why the SRU appear keen to revamp knockout competition emerged this week.

A well-placed source within Murrayfield said: "The message we are getting from a lot of players is that they don't want the season running on and on.

"This has been taken on board but, when changes which will facilitate this are proposed, an outcry occurs in some quarters."

In relation to fixture congestion, there is also speculation that back-up games for pro-team players – for which clubs will be asked to supply players – could increase to eight per season for Edinburgh and Glasgow. And the strength of feeling among the supporters' group can be gauged by the fact, at the time of writing, a website poll shows 80.49 per cent of those surveyed favouring the retention of the Cup with only 19.51 per cent against.

In a letter to clubs, Forum of Scottish Rugby Supporters vice-chair Roy Comfort says: "Why suspend the Cup before there's even any proposal as to what might replace it?

"The case being put forward just doesn't add up and we could be throwing out the valuable baby with the bath water."

Tonight's meeting will also hear a call for future annual meetings to be switched from the traditional Friday evening slot deeper into the weekend, either on a Saturday or Sunday, to facilitate travel arrangements.

The contest for presidency will be a two-horse race with George Jack (Leith and Biggar) seeking re-election against Jim Stevenson (Cambuslang).