THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS
DAVID FERGUSON CHIEF RUGBY WRITER ([email protected])
THE installation of a second successive Scots-born Prime Minister has added spice to a dull summer in politics, and in Scottish rugby, also, the race to become the SRU's new president has stirred the sport from its seasonal slumber.

It would be pushing the metaphor a bit to suggest the outgoing leaders Tony Blair and Andy Irvine had much in common other than being born in Edinburgh, but there remains the same keen sense of interest, and touches of doubt, over whether the new man can emulate all that was good about his predecessor.

Peter Brown, George Jack and Jim Stevenson will tonight go head-to-head to become the new president and not since Peter Dods stepped into his No 15 jersey will anyone have recognised just how much beating Irvine takes in the world of Scottish rugby. He made mistakes and cost Scotland tries in international matches, yet remains the choice of the masses as Scotland's greatest-ever player.

His ambition, skills, passion and determination were great strengths in his playing days and, 25 years on, they have been very much in evidence again at the national stadium.

A director with global property firm Jones Lang Lasalle, Irvine was persuaded, after a few chats, to take a grip of the new presidential role in 2005 at a time of crisis in the sport, a decade of professionalism having brought more harm than good to the Scottish game and lumbered it with a £23 million debt that refused to shift.

Sheriff Dunlop's working party, which created the new system of governance, proposed a president to be "much more ceremonial and ambassadorial and less administrative or executive". As well as visiting over 100 clubs, handing out prizes and meeting counterparts across the world, Irvine, whether by design or desire, went much further and has been central to much decision-making, advising and media dealing.

How successful his term of office has been will not be judged on the balance sheet as only tonight will the agm finally approve the 2006 figures, before moving on to the 2007 statement, and likely acceptance of the same debt level, in August.

But we will hear again of more robust financial controls, clubs making great strides, the improvement of age-group teams and a brighter future for the grassroots of the game - a claim emboldened by the recent announcement of growing playing numbers and new investment in club rugby. And the vast majority of club delegates will be happy.

Alongside motions on the return of the vice-president, player eligibility, changing numbers of replacements, ticket commission for clubs, there will also be a vote on whether the cup competition should move to a regional format up until the quarter or semi-finals, which has eased talk of boycotts among Border clubs.

Irvine and Gordon McKie have endured a demanding second year in office, heightened by the decisions to scrap the Borders team and the SRU's hijacking of a well-prepared and funded bid to bring the IRB world sevens to Melrose.

McKie and Irvine have worked overtime to assuage the vociferous in club-land and the heavy emphasis on "taking from the pros to give to the clubs" has been persuasive enough to ensure few, if any fireworks at tonight's agm.

By involving himself in so much day-to-day business Irvine put his head on the block. He has emerged with his reputation dented in some quarters, enhanced in others, but his respect largely intact.

He stepped in when many darted for cover in 2005 and has not shirked the challenges in a genuine bid to restore harmony in Scottish rugby.

CONTENDERS FOR SRU PRESIDENCY
PETER BROWN (Proposed by Gala, seconded by Marr)
Viewed in many circles as the "man to shake things up". Insists that he will be no more questioning than anyone else, as he has full trust in the executive board, but has reputation for straight talking, asking difficult questions and challenging the accepted. His background as successful Scotland captain makes him favourite among those who want another well-known president, but has he enough affinity with clubs?

GEORGE JACK (Proposed by Leith Academicals, seconded by Biggar)
The most experienced "union" man, Jack has been involved in the governance of Scottish rugby since 1993 and a key figure in the transformation from the general committee to new council and board. Served as vice-chairman to Andy Irvine for past two years and popular establishment candidate. Champion of the club game wants to create a more harmonious "union" but unknown whether his political past will prove a help or a hindrance.

JIM STEVENSON (Proposed by Cambuslang, seconded by Hamilton)
The dark horse as the most unknown of the trio, Stevenson has won over many clubs with his straight-forward "club-man" approach. Passionate about the game at all levels, he shares rivals' determination to drive game from the bottom up. Is ambitious about growing the game in new areas and, like the others, has great social skills and humour, but will he hold enough kudos to be Scotland's chief ambassador?

This article was posted on 29-Jun-2007, 06:57 by Hugh Barrow.