EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REPORTS
BILL LOTHIAN ([email protected])
SCOTLAND'S rugby stars have been urged not to let themselves become pawns in the long-running dispute between Edinburgh Rugby and the SRU.

Bosses at Edinburgh's pro team are carrying out an effective "work to rule" to draw attention to a row over competition revenues by withdrawing their stars from World Cup training until the previously agreed start of preparations on July 13.

And players' association chief Jim Hay has now entered the fray and offered to mediate.

He said: "I have contacted the two Edinburgh representatives on the Players' Association, Ally Hogg and Chris Paterson, to say they should not allow themselves to be stuck in the middle and that I am available to assist any individual if required."

Hay made it clear that his sympathies lay with the club. He said: "I had known what Edinburgh were planning because they were good enough to keep me informed on behalf of the players. They are putting pressure on to try to resolve a long-standing dispute.

"Typically, the SRU are trying to shove matters aside and hope it goes away. They have acted similarly in a dispute involving my refusal to sign a confidentiality agreement in order to sit as an independent representative of the players on the SRU Council and clubs, too, have seen this approach.

"There are clear conflicts of interest when a governing body enters the commercial market place as the SRU do and this can't be ignored."

Edinburgh and the SRU finally got together yesterday to the relief of supporters' chairman Bert Lawson, who also backed the club's stance. He said: "Edinburgh are using the players to get their point across and I don't blame them because I'd do the same myself.

"There are obviously two sides to everything and I am probably more familiar with Edinburgh's take on things. But it does seem they are entitled to more money from the Heineken European Cup and Magners League.

"Also, the question of bar takings from the SRU hospitality suite after home matches has still to be resolved. So there are issues, including the decision by the SRU to withdraw turnstile attendants for the Edinburgh home games at Murrayfield.

"Overall there needs to be a swing in the balance of power towards clubs. Without these clubs efforts getting more recognition it is impossible to grow the game because you can't do development successfully on the basis of occasional international matches at Murrayfield.

"Nevertheless the SRU take players away so often that Edinburgh need to make more and more signings - 35 to date plus ten apprentices - to cover the absences.

"Then, when the internationalists do return, there is a surplus of players, many of whom can't get games. The irony is that Frank Hadden, as national coach, wants the players for training.

"But, in taking these players away so often, Frank is doing exactly what he objected to when Scotland coach Matt Williams did it when Frank was in charge at Edinburgh.

"Edinburgh's position is understandable since they pay the players' wages. Above all, though, the players must not be made the fall guys so it is in everybody's interests that there is a speedy resolution and I am speaking as a Scotland fan as well as an Edinburgh supporter.

"Overall very few people will be making sense of what the SRU are doing on the club scene.

"For example, in looking to operate Glasgow they have acquired three international hookers in Dougie Hall, Fergus Thomson and Ross Ford when only one can start each match."

This article was posted on 5-Jul-2007, 11:40 by Hugh Barrow.