THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS
DAVID FERGUSON
GAVIN Hastings has declared an interest in replacing Andy Irvine as president of the Scottish Rugby Union.

The former Scotland and British and Irish Lions captain currently runs his own marketing and events business in Edinburgh, but speaking with Scottish Rugby Radio this week the Watsonians club member revealed that he would be keen on the presidency when Irvine stands down in June.

\"I would be very happy and very honoured to be SRU president,\" he said. \"I don\'t see why not.

\"I think Andy Irvine has a great pedigree and a great rapport with the players. He has status and energy and gravitas that allows him to sit on boards and be taken seriously, and perhaps that\'s not always been the case in the past.

\"So if I can at some stage play my part in that then I\'d be delighted to do so.\"

Irvine took up the new role in 2005 in the wake of the leadership coup and radical change of governance at Murrayfield. Part of the recommendations on a new way forward was to open up elections for the union\'s president to any individual, providing he was put forward by clubs, ending what was termed the \"buggin\'s turn\" process, whereby district representatives would work their way up to the vice-president\'s chair and, for one final year in office, be president.

Irvine beat off the challenge from former SRU vice-president George Blackie and although he admitted to becoming more involved in the day-to-day running of the SRU than he originally envisaged, he agreed in June of this year to stay on for a second and final term.

Hastings insisted he did not wish to become involved in the political side or day-to-day running of the SRU business, but did feel his experience as a player, captain and administrator with events throughout world rugby would help him provide the kind of ambassadorial leadership the SRU needs.

He could face a challenge as nominations do not have to be with the SRU until later in the season. The former Scotland full-back acknowledged that reducing the SRU\'s £23m debt, and so increasing investment throughout the game, would remain the big challenge for the union in 2007

This article was posted on 29-Dec-2006, 08:34 by Hugh Barrow.