The Herald reports

Sympathy from others is proof of Scotland’s malaiseNEIL DRYSDALE July 24 2007
Nothing better illustrates the sickly state of Scottish rugby than the sympathetic reaction to its problems from rival clubs in Ireland and Wales.

As conflict between the Scottish Rugby Union and Edinburgh continues - the probability is that the matter will end up in the High Court - reports emanate of dissatisfaction spreading among Edinburgh's internationalist contingent over the way they have been treated during the past fortnight.

The sport has reached the stage where Irish and Welsh observers preface comments with "I'm not being patronising, but " or "don't think that I'm being smug, because I'm not".

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This is only eight years after Scotland surged to a magnificent victory in the last Five Nations Championship.

That was then, and the subsequent deterioration in standards at elite level and shrinking fan base for Celtic League and Scottish Premiership fixtures tells its own story of disenchantment and a growing sense that any game which produces so much bile, needless animosity, and frankly adolescent arguments isn't worth a candle.

"We're sorry about what is happening in Scotland because to lose the Borders was very disappointing and obviously this stand-off between the governing body and Edinburgh sounds like the last thing anybody needs," said Peter Breen, a Leinster spokesman.

"From where I am standing, Scottish and Irish rugby are very similar, but our evolution has happened because of the outstanding success of the national team in the last five years. During the same period, the IRFU has created a viable structure, where they have consciously established a strong base and encouraged the grassroots, and there is a sense over here that everybody is pulling together in the same direction.

"That's not to say there isn't a keen rivalry and powerful regional identities at Leinster, Munster, Connacht and Ulster. There are, and crowds of 20,000, 30,000, even 40,000 aren't uncommon in the big inter-provincial fixtures. But a lot of that is down to the significant amount of work which has been done with kids, with families, and in encouraging women to take an interest in rugby.

"From what I gather, older rugby people are walking away from the sport in Scotland. That's disastrous, because you need to build up the inter-generational links. If pieces of the chain simply go missing, it means that boys and girls who used to go to matches with their fathers or grandfathers no longer make the effort. That's a slippery slope."

Officials at a number of organisations voiced similar concerns and there is a clear consensus that, if Edinburgh go out of business, it would not only make a mockery of Scotland's representation in the event, but also break the rules since current regulations state each participating country must enter between two and four clubs into the Magners League.

Yet what is most apparent is that the Welsh and Irish teams have reached the stage where they truly fear for the welfare of their Scottish counterparts over the dog's breakfast which has been made of professionalism.

"As for European competition of which he is a director, the Scots are now without representation in the second-tier event the Challenge Cup and, although they are getting support in troubled times, just as Wales did a few years ago, the long-term outlook is worrying," said Stuart Gallacher, chief executive of Llanelli Scarlets.

"I've spoken to people in Scotland who say they don't hold out an awful lot of hope for a resolution between the SRU and Edinburgh. We all need a strong Scotland, but it seems pretty clear that many people are voting with their feet and staying away from matches. I've been travelling north for 40 years and there used to be big crowds at club games, but now you don't get any more than a couple of thousand spectators to watch Edinburgh at Murrayfield.

"Once the die-hards start drifting away, it can be an awfully tough job persuading them to come back."

Having suffered serious teething problems when their regional sides first came into existence, the success of the reigning champions, the Ospreys, and the advances made by Llanelli and Cardiff are indicative of how the Welsh have transcended the glitches and prospered through unity.

"We have to sell the sport and let everybody know who we are, what we can offer them, and how they can get involved, not just with lip service, but by going out and reaching every single person in the community," says the Ospreys' director of rugby, Kevin Hopkins. "We now have five youth development officers working on our behalf, and building up our identity is a huge part of the process. We want to be masters of our own destiny, but that doesn't prevent us from enjoying a good working relationship with the WRU in Cardiff. We all share the same common goal, don't we?"

It's life, Jim. But not as we know it in Scotland.

This article was posted on 24-Jul-2007, 07:01 by Hugh Barrow.