EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REPORTS

Carruthers sees benefit from Euro revolt
BILL LOTHIAN
EDINBURGH Rugby co-owner Bob Carruthers today insisted English and French big guns wouldn't be missed if they carry out their threat to boycott next season's European Cup.

And movie/music mogul Carruthers even insisted that the boycott could bring unprecedented benefits to the Capital through skipper Chris Paterson's team going on to lift the cup for the first time.

As European bosses prepare to meet tomorrow and Thursday to discuss the "crisis", Carruthers believes it can be business as usual so long as other representatives of the countries advocating revolt fill in during a dispute based on tournament share-holdings in England and an over-crowded French fixture list.

Carruthers says: "Technically, Edinburgh's position is represented by the SRU at European and Celtic League level.

"In those circumstances, the club will send a letter saying that we would be quite happy with the likes of Coventry, Cornish Pirates and Birmingham Solihull joining forces with the French Second Division or even an extra number of Italian outfits to make up the 2007-08 European Cup - and expect the SRU to argue accordingly.

"No disrespect - and I have been impressed by the English National League rugby I have seen from my base in the Midlands - but if there is an alternative entry based on the second tier then Edinburgh might have an even greater chance of going on to win the trophy.

"That is what I'd like the to be mindful of as opposed to their seemingly constant underselling of pro-rugby through doom and gloom statements such as the one released from Murrayfield last Friday about what might happen if the English and French go ahead with their boycott.

"The governing body should be talking the sport up but I am sincere when I say that nobody remembered the English big guns boycotting Europe in 1999 and it'll be the same this time around."

Fears exist that a boycott would mean dramatic shortfall in incomes and exposure but Carruthers insisted: "I'm not so sure that the sponsors or broadcasters would be all that put off especially given the continuing involvement of the Celtic countries and some famous names like Coventry etc who maybe just need a leg up in their attempts at recovering a place at the top table of English rugby."

The turmoil goes ahead against the backdrop of continuing uncertainty on the Scottish domestic front where Border Reivers are threatened with the axe unless a rescue package can be mounted.

Adding a fresh twist is the fact that Carruthers is set to consult lawyers about possible contravention of anti-competition law should Reivers players be allocated to Glasgow rivals, also owned by the SRU, in the Celtic League.

Carruthers said: "The SRU have argued they have a right to run two teams in the same league on grounds they are a governing body. In fact the SRU are a registered company andsubject to the 1998 Competitions Act.

"Under that Act they could be accused of abusing a dominant position but before going down the legal road we would like to discuss matters with them including what Edinburgh feel is an appropriate share of Celtic and European revenues."

This article was posted on 10-Apr-2007, 14:03 by Hugh Barrow.