SCOTTISH RUGBY STATEMENT
Posted: 05/Jul/07
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Scottish Rugby has fully complied with the terms of its contract with Edinburgh Rugby Limited at all times and wishes to make this clear to the Scottish public. It is dismayed that Edinburgh Rugby continues to make unfounded allegations.

On the specific issue of Edinburgh Rugby withdrawing their players selected for Scotland World Cup training, SRU Secretary Graham Ireland commented,

“We have now written to Edinburgh Rugby on two occasions, reminding them of their obligations to release players for Scotland duty in line with the International Rugby Board’s requirements. Regrettably we have now been forced to refer the matter to the independent disciplinary body for consideration. It is now out of our hands.

“The Disciplinary Panel will independently determine the rights and wrongs of this case and sanction Edinburgh Rugby appropriately. It is a great pity that we have had to resort to this in order to protect the interests of the Edinburgh players selected for the Scotland training camp and to give our national team its best chance for success in the Rugby World Cup, which begins in September”.

Notes to Editors:
1. IRB regulation 9.1 makes clear that an international team has first and last call on players for training or playing.

2. IRB Regulation 9.2 prohibits clubs from preventing their players from attending national training sessions or matches.

3. Within the Guidance Note to IRB Regulation 9, point 3.6 says that if a club breaches Regulation 9 it is liable to be sanctioned.

This article was posted on 6-Jul-2007, 14:15 by Hugh Barrow.