EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REPORTS
SRU intent on re-shaping format of the Scottish Cup
BILL LOTHIAN

RUGBY bosses are set to press for a revamp of the Scottish Cup.

A motion being put forward to next Friday's annual general meeting of the governing body at Murrayfield and calling for a knock-out competition which has been in existence since 1996 to be urgently reviewed is now the subject of increasing debate at grassroots.

Under proposals now being circulated in the name of SRU Board chairman Allan Munro, along with company secretary Graham Ireland, the current format which sees clubs from the Highlands to the Borders enter at the preliminary stage and joined a few rounds later by the big guns would be shaken up in time for this coming season.

Clubs are being told that travel costs and the frequency of mis-matches underlie the proposals - and early indications are these views are being well received.

The SRU statement says: "Concern has been expressed by clubs in recent seasons on two areas .... the distance of travel... and a number of mis-matches. In addition... the commercial potential can be enhanced. The Board proposes that the Championship Committee review the format... with a view to implementing changes from season 2006-07."

One Murrayfield insider said today: "What might well come out of this is a system whereby only Premiership clubs contest the Cup; the Shield will be open to National League outfits and the rest will play for the Bowl.

"This is in line with football's Challenge Cup competition for lower league clubs although they do still contest the Scottish Cup itself. However, there is a realisation that for many grassroots outfits the Scottish Cup is over almost before it starts."

Many critics have argued for years that there is something ill judged about the current set-up which allows teams to lose in the cup then go on to reach Murrayfield in one of the two subsidiary tournaments to be hailed as champions on Finals day.

The source added: "What the Championship committee want is a blank sheet of paper while recognising that Stirling County seem to have put their finger on what's required in proposals circulating in rugby circles at the moment.

"At grassroots we want a competition where we qualify into something rather than get put there after losing and anything that means we have a realistic chance of raising our game all the way through to reach Murrayfield would be better than knowing sooner rather than later we'll met a Premiership side and get dumped."

This article was originally posted on 23-Jun-2006, 14:29 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 23-Jun-2006, 16:52.