THE SOTSMAN REPORTS
DAVID FERGUSON AND ATHOLL INNES


THE Scottish Rugby Union called an emergency board meeting last night amid concerns it had underestimated the reaction to its decision to shut down the Border Reivers pro side.

Since the announcement was made last Tuesday the union has found itself under attack from all sides. The Borders players, many of whom will be made redundant, accused the SRU of "setting them up to fail", while the Scottish Borders Council passed an emergency motion calling on the team to be saved and effectively passing a vote of not confidence in the SRU's ability to "protect and nurture the game of rugby in Scotland".

Stung by the criticism, Andy Irvine, the SRU president, summoned members of the Scottish Rugby Board to an emergency meeting at Murrayfield last night. An announcement on the outcome of the summit is expected today.

There was no sign of a thawing in the opposition to the SRU's decision yesterday, with plans unveiled to stage a demonstration at Murrayfield.

The Border Reivers are calling on all Scottish rugby supporters to take the fight to save the pro side to the national stadium on Friday night. Free transport is being laid on from the region for a demo to be staged ahead of Edinburgh's Magners League match against Newport Gwent Dragons. Tickets will also be provided for the game.

"We are urging as many supporters as possible to show their anger at the decision of the SRU to close down the Reivers at the end of the season," said Borders councillor Graham Garvie.

Garvie, who has left his position with Edinburgh Rugby to fight the corner for the Borders, said: "I am a Borderer. I live here and I feel very strongly about what has happened. I believe that it [saving the Borders team] can be achieved."

The clubs have also invited SRU chief executive Gordon McKie, executive chairman Allan Munro and president Andy Irvine to a meeting at an Edinburgh hotel on Thursday night to discuss the rescue package for the Reivers.

"All clubs have also been invited to attend and I hope we get a huge response," said Garvie.

The SRU is axing the Borders in a cost-cutting measure and redirecting some of the funding to the Glasgow pro side.

Norman Douglas, the former Borders chairman, called on the clubs to join the rally. "We want to make people aware of our anger at this decision. We want as big a turnout as possible to show that powers-that-be that we mean business. The union has not consulted and it is imperative that we do have a say. The board was put there to look after the interests of Scottish rugby and not kill off the game.

"The SRU board has refused all requests to attend a public meeting in the Borders and have even gone so far as to refuse to meet the redundant players. The only alternative is for the Scottish public to make a show of the widespread anger by descending in numbers at Murrayfield and demonstrate their strength of feeling to the SRU executive in person."

This article was posted on 2-Apr-2007, 07:11 by Hugh Barrow.