THERE were always two characters within Gordon Bulloch, the SRU's new non-executive director, while he led Glasgow and Scotland and both are destined to play a part in shaking up the running of Scottish rugby.
One was the suave off-field Glaswegian, who developed as keen an interest in property as he did in sharp-suited fashions, and managed both with genuine ambition and a dry wit. The other, the more well-known to rugby supporters, was the deadly serious
playing animal whose name when mis-spelled 'Bullock' was almost a tribute to his penchant for head-strong rampaging runs.
As his pro career developed, he became even more of a competitive individual on the field and in training, desperate to cast off the traditional Glasgow stereotype of a player with the ability to do well, but an attitude that cared less.
He grew into the consummate pro before he reached 75 caps and was selected to tour New Zealand with the British and Irish Lions in 2005. Younger stars on that tour from England, Wales and Ireland spoke of learning much from their successful midweek captain.
The hooker could have played on longer than he did, but that tour provided an international swansong, as he had had his fill of playing the middle man as Scotland skipper in 2005. He spent too many days latterly trying to appease team-mates growing more frustrated and angry with the coaching team of Matt Williams, Willie Anderson and Brett Igoe while striving to work with the coaches to improve a dry period for a national team he cared about passionately.
At the age of 30, Bulloch retired from Test rugby and after a season with Leeds returned to old club West to map out a career off the field. Married with a 16-month-old girl, he now has a healthy property portfolio and is technical manager with Highland Galvanizers and Colour Coaters. As of this week he is also a non-exec director on the SRUs' executive board.
He insists: "I won't be wearing a blazer. In fact, if there's any blazers left there I'll have to get to work on the dress code!
"I was quite surprised when they asked if I'd be interested, but it's a great opportunity and I think the board have to be applauded for looking beyond just businessmen with free time on their hands.
"I think they realise that they have a lot of business acumen up there, a lot of financial decision-making powers and experience, but actual day-to-day rugby experience …? It's fine if you're just running a business on pure profit, but the going forward of the Scottish game from mini rugby to international rugby has to have better support at the top.
"I've met Gordon McKie (SRU Chief Executive] a couple of times, and spoken with Allan Munro (board chairman], and they say they want more accountability; not be making decisions based simply on what someone below them in the SRU says is what they need. They want to make decisions based on experience from someone who has been there and done it, so, hopefully, I can fulfil that role.
"I think getting a former player involved is overdue. For so long players are just told what to do and when to do it, but having come up through schools, U19s, pro teams, A team and Scotland, I have a good idea of the pitfalls and what can be improved, so, hopefully, I can bring some more accountability to where and how money is spent."
It is fair to assume that Bulloch has ideas on where he can influence change, but the 33-year-old insists he wants his role to be a fluid and informative one rather than simply throwing opinions gathered from the past 20 years across the boardroom table.
"I can't just make decisions from sitting at a desk or wherever," he said. "The game is changing so quickly and you need to be able to tap into that.
"I've got to go and speak to people who are living the life at the academy, or the pro team, or with the international set-up, and get answers where maybe some of the board members wouldn't get answers.
"I've been playing for the last couple of seasons, in three leagues now, and obviously I watch a lot of pro rugby and international rugby, but watching is different to talking to the guys involved, the management and back-up staff. I want to get in-depth and ask them their needs and wants.
"It's happened very quickly so I have not thought about specifics, or areas to challenge straight away. I feel strongly about young professionals coming through being given the chance to play club rugby first, rather than sitting watching thinking they are above that once they get a contract.
"But my remit will be wide and, hopefully, my experience can bring something to the board that they didn't have before."
The hooker will be leading a strong West pack blending ambitious young pros and club players against Melrose at the Greenyards today, and returns to work on Monday with his first board meeting and a match at Twickenham alongside Jonah Lomu, to raise funds for injured British forces personnel, penned in for later this month. It is a heady blend of responsibilities, but underlines how the SRU have finally taken on someone with his head very much in the game.
The full article contains 926 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
