EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REPORTS

BILL LOTHIAN AND GARY HEATLY


TALKS aimed at saving Celtic League rugby from collapse were being held today, with hopes pinned on Welsh clubs forcing their union to back down.

Rugby officials were today desperately trying to broker a peace deal as professional players raised fresh concerns about the demise of the league.

The Celtic League seemed doomed when Scottish and Irish bosses agreed to expel their Welsh counterparts for agreeing to jump ship and join a new cup competition with English clubs.

This was in spite of an agreement being signed by Wales, who appeared keen to commit to further seasons of cross-border games, in early April.

Murrayfield hopes are now being pinned on a backlash from Welsh clubs.

A source from outside Scotland said: "Welsh Rugby Union bosses who tried to engineer a switch have still to face up to their clubs, who now face the prospect of being left high and dry and will want answers to some stern questions."

The Evening News understands that it is this angle the SRU are now vigorously exploring - led by committee member, Norman Douglas.

Mr Douglas was unavailable for comment today.

Fears were also raised by Players Association chief executive Jim Hay, who said: "There is obvious concern, not least because some of the players' bonuses were linked to Celtic League performance and I would hate to see Scotland go back to the days of not so long ago when pros did not really know what they were playing in."

Premiership clubs secretary Kenny Hamilton supported efforts to save the league but qualified his remarks with a warning. "We recognise that there needs to be an upper tier to bridge the gap between club rugby and internationals," he said.

"But sympathy has to be set aside due to the lack of a plan B involving a semi-professional club competition which would need urgent thought to create."

Scotland rugby legend Scott Hastings has described the situation as a "mess".

He added: "My initial reaction is one of shock. How, after ten years of professional rugby in this country, a situation like this can occur is beyond me. I cannot believe the representatives from the three nations could not have sat down and sorted something out between them."

An SRU spokesman said: "Dialogue is taking place today between clubs in Wales and our representatives.

"The difference here is that yesterday's meeting, which brought about Wales' expulsion for not adhering to the April 4 agreement setting out a new structure mainly in accordance with their wishes involved WRU heads, as opposed to clubs." Further channels are also being explored, such as an end-of-season cup involving Italian clubs, who voted on Sunday to opt out of joining their Celtic counterparts in a league.

It is understood that the BBC are prime movers behind the Anglo Welsh Cup, with offers of £250,000 to the four Welsh regional sides.

The Beeb is desperate to fill a club rugby void in their flagship Saturday sports programme, Grandstand.

Neil Hunter, secretary of the Independent Scottish Rugby Supporters Forum, said: "Regardless of whether this is considered a matter of the Welsh grabbing money and running or Scottish/Irish pig-headedness, unfortunately the supporters will be left with fewer matches.

"What is also unfortunate is that, having seen the Celtic League becoming a success, a lot of hard work is now being undermined."

Watsonian legend Hastings added: "Once again players and supporters alike are entering a season going into the unknown. It is unfair for everything to be up in the air. The players won't know which sides they are going to be playing against."

Ex Scotland internationalist Craig Joiner, meanwhile, is keen to see a way to keep the league alive found.

"I urge the authorities to get round the table as soon as possible and save the Celtic League," he said.

This article was posted on 1-Jun-2005, 14:14 by Hugh Barrow.