EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REPORTS
BILL LOTHIAN

KENNY MILNE today pinpointed the key area in fostering all-important liaisons between traditional rugby clubs and privately owned Edinburgh Gunners as ensuring free movement between the Premiership and a new professional academy system.

Former Scotland and Lions Test hooker Milne, of Heriot's, insists that relations between the clubs and the Gunners are now much improved.

But the 1990 Grand Slammer said the best way to ensure there is no deterioration is for the Gunners to honour the deal which will see up and coming prospects given plenty of exposure to the Premiership as well as turning out at age-group level against other pro clubs.

Milne, who faced the All Blacks on the 1993 Lions tour, said: "Following the franchising of the Gunners to the Carruthers brothers, Alex and Bob, I can see crowd potential of 10-15,000 being realised within five years.

"But that will perhaps only happen if those fans of the traditional clubs continue to be more open minded about the pro game. For a variety of reasons I have been aware of a large number of stay-aways from the Celtic League, European Cup etc.

"These have been based on the fact that some objected to anybody in rugby being paid either as player, coach or administrator. Others saw the pro teams as creaming off their club's talent as well as taking opportunities they felt belonged to them. They boycotted accordingly. Latterly things have been changing for the better, partly as realisation grows that there is no difference between players gravitating upwards to the likes of Edinburgh from clubs and the sort of opportunities Premiership teams themselves have long offered individuals in the junior ranks.

"Now that the Carruthers have hopefully breathed fresh life into Edinburgh, there can be no slipping back to old habits and the best way of ensuring that happens is for the pro teams to honour a deal just brokered so that youngsters will play in both Premiership and academy matches.

"While the original SRU-promoted scheme may have been to withdraw youngsters from clubs more or less totally, a change of tack, thankfully, will see the academy signings hopefully miss only a handful of Premiership outings.

"It is impossible to underestimate the good that can come from pitching a young player in against a more experienced rival in a truly competitive environment.

"On my way up the ladder I benefited from pulling on a Heriot's jersey to confront international hookers such as Colin Deans of Hawick [right] and Gary Callander of Kelso and, if we ever lose that element, Scottish rugby will suffer. Similarly, I remember Scotland regulars Simon Taylor and Bruce Douglas, amongst others, turning out initially at second team level with Heriot's.

"Judging by their entrenched place on the international stage today these reserve outings did them no harm - regardless of how important it is to give extra conditioning and other kinds of specialised help to teenagers through the academies.

"If the clubs are still made to feel they are doing the most important job of all which is to attract and initially develop talent then the future will be even brighter and, certainly, opposition to the pro teams is becoming less vocal which is a step forward, surely.

This article was posted on 18-Jul-2006, 13:54 by Hugh Barrow.