EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REPORTS
BILL LOTHIAN ([email protected])
THE Scottish Rugby Union were today accused of trying to "gag" professional players by preventing their association representative from taking up a place on the governing body.

Jim Hay, secretary of the Players Association in Scotland, hit out as officials at Murrayfield prepared to unveil the contents of a review into the professional game.

Former Scotland hooker Hay said: "Although there is a place reserved for a player's representative on the SRU council and I have been nominated, I haven't been able to take my seat because of what is effectively a gagging order.

"The SRU require me to sign a confidentiality agreement before being allowed to participate in decision making, but that is at odds with the best interests of the players. If I signed then I would not be able to speak to the media at a time when I fear rugby in Scotland might be about to implode.

"The reason is that the SRU want to control absolutely everything. Despite the fact there is an enormous amount requiring their urgent attention they are pre-occupied with restraining orders and keeping the players' representative at arms length.

"I'm allowed to read minutes but not vote which can't be right considering a place was made available for the Players Association at the latest [SRU] restructuring.

"This is in keeping, though, with an organisation who stand alone in trying to control the Players Association to the extent of denying us direct funding, unlike our counterparts. It is extremely worrying because professional rugby is now at a cross-roads and things could be so much better if the SRU concentrated on what they should be doing and allowed investors to come in without them being so pernickety." Central to Hay's concerns is the future of the Border Reivers, who are believed to be threatened with the axe.

Hay said: "Recently a group of businessmen showed interest but, as always, everything had to go through the SRU. They should be letting people who really know rugby get more involved in a business sense because the effect the SRU is having is to encourage players to leave Scotland."

A host of top named players led by current caps Simon Taylor, Scott Murray, Rob Dewey, Rory Lamont and Ally Strokosch have all signed for clubs outside Scotland along with A internationalist Ally Dickinson, also from Edinburgh.

Hay added: "The exodus so far is just the tip of the iceberg. At the last count I expect 20 players to leave before this Autumn's World Cup with the next to go, I can reveal, being Bristol-bound Graeme Beveridge [ex-Boroughmuir] the Glasgow and Scotland scrum-half.

"In the ideal world all the players would be standing up to the SRU and fighting for proper representation. In the current climate I can understand why some get to the point where they prefer to plod along or else pick up a phone to their agents and say 'can you find me another club?'

"The Scottish club game is on its knees which is where the SRU's priorities should lie at a time when they are involving themselves at professional level.

"Most worrying to all is that as a consequence of their policy the return on their investment in youth rugby is not being realised. For example, just when bright young stars such as Ally Strokosch and Ally Dickinson should be giving a return for all the coaching they have had on the way up to international level they are - I understand - leaving Edinburgh for less money from Gloucester."

Hay made it clear he meant no criticism of privately-owned Edinburgh Rugby, and he abhorred the fact that they had also been denied a place on the body charged with reviewing the professional game.

Hay added: "I was speaking with Graeme Stirling [Edinburgh Rugby managing director] and couldn't believe it when he told me that despite the heavy investment of Bob and Alex Carruthers to become major stakeholders in Scottish Rugby they are not allowed to debate the future direction in which the team might be taken. That is a ridiculous state of affairs but in keeping with the treatment meted out to the Border Reivers.

"Here we are told by the SRU that the Borders Reivers team is in jeopardy because they average crowds of about 1500 when 2500 is the minimum required.

"Yet it isn't lack of interest that is dampening enthusiasm in a region where rugby is still eagerly followed and debated, but the uncertainty - much of which has been created by the SRU.

"Besides, the shortfall from the projected attendances equates to the salary of one top-class player, so, would Murrayfield really be prepared to pull the plug in those circumstances when their own poor marketing has been mainly responsible.

"I'm thinking of the difficulties attached to buying season tickets from the outset of the campaign while it is impossible to buy a Border Reivers replica jersey, which hardly strikes me as good marketing.

"With private backers allowed to get on with things free from interference it might not be too long before there is money being generated.

"Above all, though, this uncertainty about the professional game, which could be relieved if the SRU knew their place and took a backward step, needs to be cleared up straightaway because players' lives and livelihoods are on the line.

"Without a voice they vote with their feet - I know of a couple of Borderers who have signed tentative contracts with Exeter Chiefs - or else hope that when we hold our annual dinner in April someone will stand up and tell it like it is for their sake.

"Sadly the Players' Association Dinner is one of the few vehicles that exists to improve the players' lot, while I refuse to sign a confidentiality agreement while the SRU keep on hoping we go away, which we won't do."

Dee McIntosh, SRU spokesperson, said today: "It was made clear at last year's annual meeting of the SRU by President Andy irvine that Jim Hay would not be able to sit at council meetings because he would not sign a confidentiality agreement.

"I am not going to get into whether or not this is democratic but reference may be made to Jim Hay at today's press conference (to reveal the outcome of an SRU review into the pro-game)."

Related topic

This article was posted on 27-Mar-2007, 14:28 by Hugh Barrow.