English clubs ban exiles from training with Scotland squad
Scotland's preparations for next week's RBS 6 Nations meeting with Italy have been disrupted by English rugby's civil war.

Jim Hamilton, Sean Lamont and Rory Lawson, all of whom play in England, have been banned from training with Scotland by Premier Rugby Ltd (PRL), the group which represents elite English clubs.

England's RFU and PRL are in a long-running dispute over who controls players, with both organisations scoring points at the other's expense whenever possible.

It previously spilled over into the international arena when Serge Blanco, chairman of the French League clubs' organisation, cited the treatment of English clubs by their governing body as part of the reason for French clubs' withdrawal from next season's European Cup.

This latest act by the PRL seems to have been carried out in unprofessional and petulant fashion since the SRU was not formally advised of their decision. It was left to the players to pass on the message, which angered Frank Hadden, Scotland's coach.

"This is most unsatisfactory," he said. "This decision taken by PRL is most unhelpful for Scotland during our preparations for a vitally important match. It also places an unfair burden on our three Exile players who become piggy in the middle."

Hadden stressed that he has a good relationship with the three clubs involved - Hamilton's Leicester Tigers, Lamont's Northampton Saints and Lawson's Gloucester - and said he hoped sanctions would not have to be applied.

International Rugby Board regulations seem to make it clear that there is an obligation on clubs to make players available when called upon for national squad sessions.

That places Brian Kennedy in a difficult position: as Sale Sharks owner he is a PRL shareholder, but he is also a non-executive director of the SRU. Since the PRL action is undermining Scotland, he would appear to have a clear conflict of interests.

He was in Poland on business yesterday and SRU administrators were unprepared to pass comment on his situation.

Hadden said: "A situation has developed that we would rather had not developed. Brian's done a great job for us. He's been extremely helpful to the board, an invaluable member of it.

"I'm sure he personally would rather the situation had not arisen and I'm sure the clubs would rather just deal with us rather than be told what to do, but we've got a bit of a political situation developing and we hope it gets resolved soon."

9:59pm today



By KEVIN FERRIE, Chief Rugby Writer

Back

This article was posted on 14-Feb-2007, 09:10 by Hugh Barrow.