EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REPORTS
BILL LOTHIAN

NEW Gunners boss Alex Carruthers today pledged to reinforce Edinburgh's reputation as "rugby city" after taking up the reins along with older brother, Bob.

The siblings were yesterday revealed as taking over a controlling stake in the team from the Scottish Rugby Union. And ex-Boroughmuir, Kirkcaldy and Caledonian Reds ace Alex Carruthers has wasted no time in claiming that there are no sporting obstacles standing in the way of the Gunners earning top sporting billing.
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"I played football in a Scottish Schools' Cup final at Hampden Park for Kirkcaldy High in the 1981 drawn match with Dumfries Academy," admitted Carruthers, who also insisted:

"As well as that I played Scottish Schools rugby - at Murrayfield as well as Cardiff Arms Park in the same month as the Hampden outing - but I decided aged 16 not to progress down the football route; I am rugby through and through as is my brother."

Parallels have already been drawn between Edinburgh and reigning European champions Munster and here, at least, Carruthers was able to draw on his footballing background when stressing rugby need have no reservations when it comes to a place in the Capital sporting pantheon.

"I had a tingle watching Munster's success and even though they didn't have the distraction of football the way we do in Scotland. I see Edinburgh as a rugby capital as much as it is about football. I like to think of rugby as traditionally a game watched by past and present players and their families; we can tap into that audience which is potentially huge."

In signing up with his impresario brother - Bob owns film, television and music events companies - Alex admits to a certain irony while able to stress his overall commitment to rugby.

"The last time I was at Murrayfield was when I managed to stumble over the line in scoring a try which helped Caley Reds beat Edinburgh on the way to the inter-district championship," he said.

"As well as dealing with egos at one end we want to develop stars of tomorrow.

"It is friendships and relationships through rugby that have won the day; it was refreshing when Chris Paterson came up and said 'nice to have you on board'."

This article was posted on 11-Jul-2006, 12:12 by Hugh Barrow.