EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REPORTS

SRU 'bully boys'
BILL LOTHIAN
RELATIONS between the owners of Edinburgh Rugby and the SRU have hit a new low with the governing body threatening to withdraw international hospitality.

A source close to Edinburgh Rugby has accused the SRU of bully-boy tactics and hinted that Edinburgh may even consider withdrawing from the Magners League and moving back to Meadowbank stadium.

Edinburgh are also set to take a hard line on player release for internationals after their side was decimated for the recent clash with Cardiff.

The SRU is furious at a leak - assumed to be from Edinburgh Rugby - that the two bodies were at loggerheads over bar takings and other arrangements at Murrayfield on Edinburgh matchdays.

It told Edinburgh Rugby - now franchised by brothers Bob and Alex Carruthers - that their hospitality table for ten guests at internationals was now no longer automatic but at the "absolute discretion" of the SRU.

Edinburgh believe the right to entertain clients and have direct access to the players after internationals is enshrined in the franchise agreement.

The change may now be the subject of a legal challenge.

The source said: "It seems Edinburgh's new owners are welcome to pay the players' wages and wave more than a dozen of them off to train with Scotland while trying desperately to plug gaps in their own side for Magners League clashes.

"But, when it comes to being around to congratulate these internationalists after a Test appearance, the Edinburgh paymasters are expected by the SRU to queue up alongside autograph hunters, no disrespect intended, outside the players' entrance.

"That wouldn't be so bad but the question of a share of the revenue from bar takings etc is still on-going despite Edinburgh and their lawyers being convinced everything had been agreed at the outset."

For the Cardiff match, the normal bar facilities were closed by the SRU to accommodate a private booking with Edinburgh supporters relocated elsewhere in the stadium. The source added: "The SRU wouldn't have allowed the stadium to be booked on an international day so why should Edinburgh be inconvenienced?"

At a recent meeting, Edinburgh Rugby were warned their relationship with the SRU was "doomed" if they did not follow the party line. But the source said that Edinburgh were not willing to be "pushed around" by the governing body.

"There remains a real commitment to work with the SRU but they must enter into the spirit of the partnership they claim exists and stop acting as bully-boys."

Further conflict is looming as Magners League bosses - representatives of the Scottish, Welsh and Irish rugby unions - are considering delaying the start of next year's fixtures until after the World Cup in October which could mean Edinburgh having no meaningful games for almost ten weeks.

The source said: "All options are open for Edinburgh, who haven't ruled out exploring the possibility of returning to Meadowbank for the sake of distancing themselves from a governing body too keen to meddle in club affairs.

"Having seen the team suffer a blow to its league title bid through co-operating fully with the SRU on player release before the Cardiff match, a new hard-line approach is being formulated.

"If Anglo players like Jason White can play for Sale eight days before an international, then we can expect Scott Murray etc to be turning out for Edinburgh as well."

An SRU spokesperson said: "Our discussions with Edinburgh Rugby are on-going and commercial sensitive but we are trying to better understand their various issues.

"Discussions are wide-ranging but I do know Edinburgh have been represented in the corporate area for the Autumn Tests so far."

And Edinburgh Rugby is taking up corporate hospitality facilities for Saturday's visit of Australia to Murrayfield.

This article was originally posted on 23-Nov-2006, 13:01 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 23-Nov-2006, 14:59.