SCOTSMAN REPORTS
BILL LOTHIAN

SCOTLAND\'S top rugby clubs are on a collision course with Murrayfield bosses over plans to withdraw talented youngsters from premiership set-ups and parachute them back in for games.

While clubs who met in Edinburgh last night to discuss the youth development proposals emerged keen to put on a conciliatory front, the reality is that the elite are being pushed closer to the brink. If aspiring players are withdrawn under central contracts to play meaningless friendly matches with the emphasis on things such as conditioning and diet, the already-fragile club scene could suffer an irreparable blow.

The clubs would suffer from a lack of continuity of selection and the disappearance of those few crowd-pullers who currently exist.

According to plans laid out by a high-powered delegation including SRU chief executive Gordon McKie and national coach Frank Hadden over the past few weeks, Scotland sides would be even more powerful - but what long-term chance for the game in general if bread-and-butter outfits are further emasculated?

Terracings, in some instances already near-deserted, would be further hit if clubs were obliged to disrupt their line-ups to include players being released back at the whim of the governing body.

Today, Kenny Hamilton, spokesman for the Premier One forum, sent out a signal that compromise might still be possible and called for the two organisations to work together.

He said: \"The ideal way to work is in partnership. Clearly, youngsters will benefit from advice on diet, conditioning, video analysis, etc. But they also need to play regular competitive club rugby.\"

Among those who would expect to be included in the SRU scheme are up-and-comings such as Stewart\'s/Melville teenager David McCall. Hamilton said: \"The intention is to write to Gordon McKie along the lines that we can work together.\"

While players need to be part of the club scene, a breakaway appears increasingly inevitable if clubs are to survive.

That still represents the unthinkable to many and the situation is massively complicated by a decision of clubs to effectively end next season before Christmas.

Hamilton acknowledges that no plans are in place yet for early 2007, when existing representative players will be withdrawn from clubs in addition to the extra \"academy\" apprentices.

These plans initially involved some form of cross-border competition but any plans to allow clubs to spread their wings were effectively vetoed by the SRU, who fear a challenge to their centrally controlled super-teams which they are insistent the pro game must revolve around.

\"We are proceeding along the lines of a ten-team first division next season as agreed.

\"The only way it can change is if somebody proposes a motion to the contrary to the next SRU annual meeting,\" said Hamilton. Asked what happens to clubs after Christmas next season Hamilton replied: \"There are a range of ideas under discussion.\"

This article: http://sport.scotsman.com/rugby.cfm?id=530592006

This article was posted on 6-Apr-2006, 14:22 by Hugh Barrow.