EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REPORTS
BILL LOTHIAN ([email protected])
SCOTTISH RUGBY bosses have been warned they face a legal battle if efforts to have Edinburgh Rugby included in next season's Heineken European Cup fail.

The ultimatum comes from Edinburgh co-owner Bob Carruthers as SRU delegates prepare for a meeting in Dublin today which will determine whether Scottish representation in the tournament remains at two, despite the axing of the Border Reivers.

Fears exist that European authorities will insist that countries must be represented in both tiers of European competition and that English and French clubs will apply pressure for an extra Heineken Cup place as part of the deal brokered to get them to abandon their proposed boycott.

The SRU has insisted that every effort has been made to maintain Scotland's presence in Europe, including pressure by president Andy Irvine last weekend.

But Bob Carruthers said: "This is another example of why the decision to close the Borders team should have been considered more carefully.

"Edinburgh weren't even consulted even though there are potentially serious implications for us. As stakeholders in the professional game we had a right to be in on discussions. The SRU are Edinburgh Rugby's legal trustees. They keep our competition money and represent us at European level.

"We bought into their vision of four professional teams based on us taking over Edinburgh and as outlined by Andy Irvine but now there are only two sides in Scotland.

"The president of the SRU's word ought to have been absolute. Yet still they won't talk to us and we've only heard in passing that SRU chief executive Gordon McKie is in Dublin for European meetings this week so how can we know what is happening?"

After accusing the SRU of "arrogance" Carruthers added: "Only the SRU would cancel a team and then consider the ramifications. They are basically hoping that there will be two Scottish teams but they are in breach of competition law as it is.

"Edinburgh have an absolute right to be in the Heineken Cup after what we were told and clearly it will be a major legal fight if we learn otherwise.

"We are trying to run a business and sell season tickets yet we still don't know our fixtures." European Rugby Cup spokesman John Corcoran would only confirm that the matter of which 24 teams take part in the Heineken Cup was on the agenda for today's meeting.

He said: "It is too early to say how the competitors will be decided but a statement will be given shortly."

This article was posted on 6-Jun-2007, 15:04 by Hugh Barrow.