EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REPORTS
BILL LOTHIAN
EDINBURGH Rugby and other Celtic League teams must accept difficult fixture lists because of TV demands for international rugby, a top Murrayfield official claimed today.

Allan Munro, chairman of the Scottish Rugby Board, admitted that it was difficult for teams like Edinburgh to develop a fan base when they will play only five home matches during the second half of this season.

Partly this is down to disruptions created by the Six Nations Championship.

But speaking in the wake of a decision to disband Borders, leaving Edinburgh and Glasgow as the Scottish teams charged with picking up the shortfall in terms of support, Munro said a more equitable fixture arrangement was out of the question because of the pre-eminence of television.

"One of the drawbacks in the Celtic League is that fixtures are not every other week and as a consequence it's hard to build up spectator interest. Many people have stated the ideal time to have internationals is at the end of the season and I would agree.

"(But) as you are well aware television controls when you can play and they want internationals earlier in the season."

Asked whether it should be the responsibility of governing bodies to dictate fixtures, Munro made it clear there had to be symbiotic relationship.

"Governing bodies in the past have sold out to television - for substantial rewards. As to whether governing bodies should be exercising more authority (over television) that is up to the Six Nations organisation."

This article was posted on 28-Mar-2007, 11:14 by Hugh Barrow.