THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS
Munster success a formula for Borders, says Robertson
DAVID FERGUSON
A HANDFUL of Borders rugby legends are spearheading a bid to take control of the region's professional rugby team in an effort to emulate Munster's rise in becoming this season's Heineken Cup champions.

A meeting of Keith Robertson, John Jeffrey, Roy Laidlaw - three Grand Slam winners - and other Borders club representatives last week fuelled belief that the next ten years could stimulate professional rugby in Scotland if the SRU follows through with a pledge to release control of the existing teams to investors.

While Graham Burgess continues with his plan to take over, most likely, Glasgow or Edinburgh, Robertson is now leading a bid to wrest the Borders from Murrayfield control and, with significant private investment, run it like a Guinness Premiership club, but with the hands-on involvement of the region's senior clubs.

"I am not going to say anything about the investor," he made clear yesterday. "People have to believe that I'm not going to waste my time doing the legwork getting us into a position where we can acquire a team.

"But he is someone interested in Borders rugby. Let's face it, people rarely go into sport to make money - everyone knows that. But they can have a hand in developing sport, and watch it become successful, hopefully. But he won't put money in without first knowing he has control of the day-to-day running of the team, the players and marketing, and, also, for this to be successful, we need to have the full backing of the Borders clubs."

But is a region of just 100,000 people - Munster boasts over one million - already devoted to clubs, capable of sustaining professional rugby? Robertson insisted: "Ultimately, it comes down to how you market it, and getting the product right. If anybody believes that the SRU have promoted and marketed an entity like Border Reivers properly then they don't have an inclination of what marketing is about.

"It has been so poorly done that you couldn't help but be more successful quickly, and it starts by involving the Border clubs and letting them have their say, truly have their say, not lip service, to what we create here.

"Our objective is to create a unique brand, which is Scottish Borders rugby. If we look back ten years people knew what that meant - it was a desire, a hunger to wear the Borders or South jersey and take on city slickers, not letting the area down and fighting for it. It was great watching Munster, as they are a perfect example of 100 per cent passion, and the Borders lends itself to that. It is definitely possible to make a Scottish Borders product work."

This article was posted on 23-May-2006, 06:02 by Hugh Barrow.