EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REPORTS
WATSONIANS president Morris Duncan has urged BT Premiership Division One clubs to put the overall interests of Scottish rugby first when they meet tonight to discuss league reconstruction, writes BILL LOTHIAN.

As revealed by the News last Thursday, there is growing concern that the present plan to cut the number of top-flight clubs from 12 to ten and finish the championship at Christmas will create a void in the calendar. And Duncan called for efforts to improve playing standards to be balanced against maintaining revenue streams for the clubs.

He said: "Hopefully all concerned will not allow self interest and insular views to prevail if relegation for this season is to be scrapped."

As things stand three teams are due to drop down with only one promoted and the axe still hangs over more than half the competition. What was emerging today, though, was a split in the ranks with some insisting compromises such as teams meeting three times a season instead of two could be found and still allow the talent to come to the top.

As one club official, who asked not to be named, said:

"Several factors are now coming into play. The bottom line for many is that clubs need more fixtures on financial grounds, not less."

Due to oversee debate - but not contribute - is SRU chief executive Gordon McKie.

This article was posted on 1-Mar-2006, 12:44 by Hugh Barrow.