InTouch


A regular programme feature that keeps you up to date with rugby and club issues and news by Kenny Hamilton.

(These may be the views of Glasgow Hawks)

Hawick
Hawks lost at Mansfield earlier this season and will be keen to avoid a repeat. Despite an enormous defensive effort a fortunate ricochet landed in the hands of the Hawick winger in the 9th minute of injury time to score under the posts and take the victory. (Hawks were not helped by being reduced to 13 players during the last portion of the game with 2 players sin-binned.)

It is only fair to point out the fighting spirit of Hawick during that match - which is a characteristic of Jim Hay’s side. They will be keen to pick up any kind of points today. To all from Hawick a warm welcome.

International Conflict
No doubt the debate will arise that somehow clubs are undermining the SRU by arranging matches which clash with the Murrayfield match again today.

However, it is important to be clear that the league season is arranged by the SRU in consultation with clubs.

Sunday rugby has been tried in the past and is a not at all popular with players, supporters or volunteers. It also conflicts with many mini and midi rugby sections that often rely on a number of the same people as volunteer coaches and organisers. The argument that clubs can arrange to play on Friday, or early Saturday is also not sustainable. Clubs have been driven down an “amateur” route and it is, therefore, unreasonable to expect players to take time off work to fulfil league commitments or to ask players to travel a distance on Friday nights after working all week and return home at 3 in the morning.

The scheduling of the league season and other competitions is a matter for the newly established competitions commission but let me suggest some of the major considerations they should take into account:

The season is too long:- The league started on 26th August with warm-up matches as early as 5th August. The Cup final is at the end of April. A 9 month season. If you add 7s in May and pre-season training in June it becomes an 11 or 12 month season for too many of our players – both amateur and pros.

The league starts too early:- The quality of rugby in the early part of the league season was, in my view, disappointing. It has reached a much higher standard of recent. We should schedule the league to start in late September.

Can we avoid International Weekends?:- With a 12 team league and the national cup in place I am not sure if it all fits.

Let us hope that the Competitions Commission can bring forward some early recommendations on all this.


Club Players International

For the second time the club players International will take place against Ireland on the 6 nations weekend (probably Friday 9th March 2007).

Management and coaching teams are currently being out in place and the identification of the squad will begin in December. (A bit later than is ideal I would suggest.) Last time Hawks provided 6 players in the 22 man squad.


The League

Well – it looks a lot healthier now. Hawks target of a top half finish might be on.

But who is going to win the league? December 9th Ayr play Currie which will be a big influence but the last day of the league is scheduled for 13th January when the top 4 will be pitched against one another.

In between none of the major contenders will be looking forward to playing a Hawks side with growing confidence.

This article was posted on 15-Nov-2006, 12:13 by Hugh Barrow.