THE HERALD REVEALS
Scott Murray, the Scotland rugby internationalist, has been sensationally sacked by Edinburgh as discontent among the professional club's players intensifies to near-breaking point.

The Herald revealed yesterday that Murray, who became the most-capped player in the history of Scottish rugby when he made his 83rd appearance for his country in March, was involved in a pay dispute with his employers.

That was a result of the allegation from Edinburgh's co-owner Bob Carruthers that the international lock was in breach of contract for speaking to the press about his forthcoming move to the French club, US Montauban, once the World Cup has finished, in November.

Carruthers refused to confirm or deny that story yesterday, but clearly believes the source of the leak was Murray himself, which it was not.

Now, though, one of the country's most respected players - he has played for the British and Irish Lions and was Scotland's player of the season in 2002 - is in the invidious position of being axed with immediate effect by Edinburgh, while his contract with Montauban does not start until November.

As a source revealed last night: "Scott is effectively being left without a salary for four months, which is why the matter has been placed in the hands of his lawyers. It is very disappointing, but this has been bubbling under the surface for the last couple of weeks."

Murray is likely to be in limbo while the affair is resolved, but his Edinburgh team-mates were said to be devastated by the news last night, particularly following Tuesday's confirmation that Chris Paterson, Scotland's stand-in captain, had signed a three-year contract with the Guinness Premiership powerhouses, Gloucester, and has left the Scottish club with immediate effect.

Nor will the irony of the situation be lost on anyone who has followed the protracted row between the Scottish Rugby Union and Carruthers that Murray has been heavily punished for talking to the media, even though Carruthers himself did little else as the row escalated over the past fortnight.

The Herald understands that Murray was asked to attend a meeting with Edinburgh executive, Dean Lewis, yesterday afternoon, where he was informed that his contract had been terminated.

He was said to be shocked at the treatment he has received, as he has been one of Edinburgh's most consistent and committed performers since returning home from England.

Now Murray, a former Scottish schools basketball internationalist who was discovered by the Preston Lodge RFC youth coach, Willie Patterson, while stacking shelves in a Prestonpans supermarket, intends to fight the decision and litigation seems inevitable.

Edinburgh Rugby Ltd may not be a happy ship at the moment, but the city's legal establishment must surely be rubbing their hands in glee.

This article was posted on 26-Jul-2007, 07:14 by Hugh Barrow.