THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS
ATHOLL INNES


THE Borders Reivers Action Group believes that it has a recovery plan that will enable the axed professional side to continue "next season and for seasons to come".

The plan, the final details of which are still being worked out, will be presented to the SRU in "days rather than weeks".

Graham Garvie, who is heading the Group after resigning from the board of the Edinburgh pro team, said after a two-hour meeting in Newtown St Boswells: "The steering group had a long discussion about producing a robust business plan, which we will present to the SRU.

"Financially we have looked at the figures and will have another revision of the draft figures that have been produced to ensure what we produce will stand up.

"We must make sure that we have our act together financially and we believe we have.

"The plan will be in place in days rather than weeks and it has to be robust, and has to be appealing to the SRU and to the Borders public."

The meeting was attended by local businessmen and representatives of Scottish Borders Council and the local enterprise company.

Garvie is confident that the Reivers will survive.

"The Reivers will be there next season, and we are determined to have them for seasons to come. We are all committed and we are all very passionate.

"There is no way that the heart of the rugby in Scotland will not have a professional team in some shape or form. We are determined this is going to happen and we will make it work."

The steering group will decide the form of the new Reivers, but it is likely to be based on the Connacht model, a development team with a few senior players bringing on the younger players. Chairman of the Borders board, David Kilshaw, who attended the meeting, re-iterated his call for Borders fans to pack Netherdale for the Magners League clash with Munster on Friday, 13 April.

"A big crowd will give us a real impetus to go forward with the recovery plan," he said.

The SRU confirmed in a statement yesterday that it was keeping an open mind on efforts to save the Reivers, as indicated the previous day by SRU president Andy Irvine. However, it warned that executives would only be prepared to meet with interested parties if a "credible business proposal" is received first.

A meeting between the parties is to take place on Tuesday in the Borders. Meanwhile, Borders clubs are scheduled to discuss the issue tonight.

Last night's statement from the SRU said: "The national governing body is keeping an open mind on the efforts being made by David Kilshaw, chairman of the Border Reivers board and the Borders Council to mount a fully-funded rescue bid for the pro team. A meeting with them will take place on Tuesday 10 April in the Borders.

"Scottish Rugby plans to embark on its latest series of club meetings throughout Scotland, beginning with a meeting in the Borders. The open invitation to all 27 Borders rugby clubs to meet with key representatives from Scottish Rugby, is set for 17 April in the Borders. The pro team decision and plans for academies and player development will be on the agenda.

"The SRU will consider meeting Graham Garvie, who now leads the separate group known as the Borders Rugby Action Group, but only after it has received a credible business proposal which outlines how his group would propose to fund and run a viable professional team in the Borders."

This article was posted on 5-Apr-2007, 07:14 by Hugh Barrow.