SUPPORT THE NATIONAL TEAM - IRVINE
Posted: 30/Jun/06
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SRU President Andy Irvine has urged rugby followers in Scotland to give their backing to the national team and the progress it has made under the leadership of coach Frank Hadden and captain Jason White.
Speaking at the SRU agm at Murrayfield tonight Irvine said that supporters' feedback had been addressed and that kick-off times and attractive pricing meant there was every incentive to fill Murrayfield for the international matches in the Autumn.
Irvine, who was elected to serve a second term as president, extolled clubs to encourage their members to support the national team, given that barriers to attendance at Murrayfield Test matches had been dismantled.
He declared: "Tell your clubs we have turned the corner. The future for your kids playing rugby is much better now. Tell them Scotland are no longer going to be the whipping boys of international rugby. Tell them to get behind the Scotland team and to get to Murrayfield for the Autumn Tests. Let's show the world we are a serious rugby nation. Get behind the boys - they deserve it."
Scotland play Romania, the Pacific Islands and Australia in the Bank of Scotland Corporate Autumn Tests on successive Saturdays, the 11, 18 and 25 November.
Adults can watch all three games for as little as £30 with the minimum three game price for children, students and pensioners of £15.
Tickets are available from this website, the Scottish Rugby ticket office at Murrayfield and from the credit card hotline (Tel: 0131 346 5100).
Scotland’s rugby clubs voted tonight to change the number of clubs in Premier Division One from season 2007-08.
Meanwhile, clubs voted 99-57 in favour of a motion from Stirling County, seconded by Ayr, Stewart’s-Melville FP and Dundee HSFP which will see 12 teams compete in the top division again in one year’s time.
Clubs ratified that the forthcoming Premier Division One, starting in August 2006, will be a ten-team division. The majority of clubs supported the motion for change in one year with a view to ensuring more games.
An amendment which would have seen the implementation of changes to league structure with immediate effect was rejected by clubs.
SRU Chief Executive Gordon McKie reported to the gathering that discussions were ongoing to try to find a solution to the funding dilemma that was affecting the three pro-teams. External investment is being sought for Edinburgh Gunners, Glasgow Warriors and Border Reivers which he said were an intrinsic part of having a successful Scotland team.
President Andy Irvine said that the view of the Scottish Rugby Council was that the three pro-teams had to be retained for the good of the national team if funding concerns could be resolved.


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This article was posted on 30-Jun-2006, 19:38 by Hugh Barrow.