The Scotsman reports

SRU chief McLeod stays firm on Welsh expulsion

DAVID FERGUSON

THE MAN trying to hold Scottish rugby together in the face of the latest Celtic League disaster admitted yesterday that the actions of Welsh clubs could force more cutbacks.

Fred McLeod, the union’s interim chief executive and chairman, could not disguise his anger at the decision of the Welsh Rugby Union to sign a four-year deal with English clubs for a new cup competition. The deal, struck without any communication with the Scottish and Irish unions, the Welsh believed merely to be an add-on to the existing Celtic League, but McLeod made it clear that unless the Welsh back-track and commit to a five-year Celtic League, with no games on international weekends, the damage will be irreparable.

He said: "They signed a four-year agreement which they cannot sustain without changing our Celtic League agreements, and did so without a word to us. They said on Tuesday that they wanted the Celtic League cut to just ten matches, to be played home or away, to enable them to play their new Powergen Cup.

"There is no doubt this would seriously affect rugby in Scotland and Ireland. It is a fact that the SRU’s debt has risen to £23 million and while we have a plan in place to get that down, this is a hit we could have done without."

The four Welsh regional clubs yesterday backed the stance of the WRU, predictably so as they had pushed the Anglo-Welsh cup, but despite more defiant messages from union officials, sources in Wales said they were shocked at the prospect of having just six guaranteed home matches next season, from the Powergen and Heineken Cup, should the Scots and Irish stand firm and leave them out.

McLeod added: "We had reached agreement with Wales and Ireland for a new, improved Celtic League which was attractive to sponsors and broadcasters and the Welsh have seen fit to ruin those plans. Of course, the door remains open for them to come back and speak to us, but they have to come up with something better than they did on Tuesday. A five-year commitment to a credible tournament, leaving international weekends is the least they must agree to."

Meanwhile, McLeod added that he expects the SRU to appoint a new executive board chairman soon after the agm this month, and a new chief executive in early July. Short-leets for both positions are currently being drawn up.

This article was posted on 2-Jun-2005, 07:29 by Hugh Barrow.