THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS

EDINBURGH executive chairman Alex Carruthers breathed a huge sigh of relief when European Rugby Cup organisers emerged from yesterday's meeting and confirmed that Scotland's two remaining professional teams will take part in the Heineken Cup.

However, the Scottish Rugby Union still does not know if it will hold on to the full European revenues, and so follow through with plans to invest more in Glasgow next season.

Since English and French clubs withdrew their threat to boycott the Heineken Cup, concern in Scotland shifted to whether the SRU decision to disband the Borders last month would force Edinburgh, as the lowest-placed Scottish side in the Magners League, to drop into the second-tier European Challenge Cup.

France, England, Wales, Ireland, Italy and Scotland had previously agreed to each enter at least one side in the Challenge Cup to maintain credibility in that tournament. But the SRU, represented in Dublin yesterday by chief executive Gordon McKie and George Jack, the Scottish Rugby Council vice-chairman, argued successfully for both of Scotland's sides to play in the premier tournament.

Carruthers said: "We always believed we should be in there, because it was not our fault that Scotland went from three to two teams, but, as we have no say in these meetings, I am relieved and delighted to hear this news.

"It is good for all concerned - for the Scottish game, for our squad and our supporters, who can now buy season tickets confident they will see the best of European rugby here next season. We saw quite a run on season-ticket sales after the announcement that Stephen Larkham was signed, but, from speaking with people, I know some were reluctant to commit with the uncertainty over the competitions we'd be in next season.

"Hopefully, this will bring an end to that uncertainty and we can now get on with planning a good season."

Meanwhile, McKie told The Scotsman: "We're very pleased to have argued the case to retain our two sides in the Heineken Cup. It is excellent news for both professional teams because the Heineken Cup attracts the very best of talent on offer in the northern hemisphere and, naturally, every professional team wants to be part of it.

"I wasn't overly worried about it, but there was a possibility that one team would have to play in the Challenge Cup, so, obviously, we're pleased. As for next season, we don't know yet. This agreement is for 2007-08 only, because we have still to see the accord between all the competing nations, which was intended to be for the next five years, agreed and signed. Hopefully, that will happen in the next month or so."

That means the SRU is still sweating on the money they will receive for competing with only two teams. The £2.1million handed out last year was viewed generally as £700,000 per team, although the SRU give Edinburgh just £525,000 in ERC monies. There is a possibility the ERC total may be cut back in light of the union's decision to disband the Borders, as well as the Magners League share, but McKie remains confident this will not happen and he will be able to 'reinvest' money spent on the Borders last season in Glasgow.

"Because the accord is not yet signed," he added, "there is no agreement yet on revenues and percentages, and whether our decision on the Borders will affect what we receive. Some useful progress was made and it's now about getting the legal formalities completed."

Intriguingly, the ERC could have been in a difficult position; if Edinburgh were dropped into the Challenge Cup, they should, under the rules, have been permitted to contest the play-off with Calvisano, having finished above Welsh club, the Dragons. However, the Dragons have already claimed the 24th Heineken Cup spot for next season by beating the Italians in a two-legged play-off in May.

The Heineken Cup pool draws are scheduled for later this month, but the seeded teams were revealed yesterday. Glasgow secured Scotland's seeded status by finishing above Edinburgh in the Magners League and will avoid holders Wasps, Leinster, Ospreys, Treviso and either Stade Francais or Clermont Auvergne, depending on who wins the French Top-14 final.

Such is the quality of world rugby's leading club tournament, however, the likes of Leicester, Gloucester, Toulouse, Biarritz, Llanelli and Munster are still primed for a trip to Scotland.

SEVENS AT MELROSE UNLIKELY - COUNCIL
THE leader of Scottish Borders Council believes there is not "any likelihood" of the Scottish Rugby Union moving the IRB Sevens to Melrose next year.

The SRU has a five-year contract to host the event, and next year is the 125th anniversary of the birth of the seven-a-side game in Melrose.

But councillor David Parker said: "I don't see that there is any likelihood we are going to see them coming back to the Borders and looking at Melrose. I wouldn't hold out an awful lot of hope."

This article was posted on 7-Jun-2007, 09:25 by Hugh Barrow.