EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REPORTS
BILL LOTHIAN
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DAVID SOLE believes the time is approaching for Scotland's leading rugby clubs to be allowed to spread their wings and compete in European competition.

The former Grand Slam captain is adamant that the domestic scene needs a boost and that cross-border competition can bring benefits higher up the scale.

"I really hope we will see club rugby re-establish itself.

"It would be great to see Scottish clubs represent Scotland in the secondary European competition and give clubs something to aspire to and aim for.

"That would generate real excitement for the fan base in Scotland - something that is really required," said the former Edinburgh Accies prop forward.

Sole's remarks come as only two Scottish sides look forward to playing in Europe this season whereas, for example, forthcoming World Cup rivals Italy have six teams entered across two competitions.

Italy now lie two places above Scotland in the world rankings at ninth and critics point out that three times as many of their players are gaining valuable extra exposure to a higher standard of play and that will possibly enable them to widen the gap further.

Sole added: "The ambitious clubs will be the ones who look to the likes of Italy to build their fixtures beyond domestic competition in pushing themselves a little bit more."

Exactly that route was prescribed by Sole and other ex- international captains at the outset of the professional era which has reached an all-time low in Scotland with a row between Edinburgh Rugby and Murrayfield bosses.

The SRU has already closed down the Borders professional club and is on the brink of taking control of Edinburgh back from private owner Bob Carruthers. Making clear his frustration at the way in which ambitious clubs have had obstacles placed in their way regarding the cross-border competitions in which they have never been allowed to compete, Sole said that, if he were still playing, he would seek to move outwith Scotland.

Sole was also critical of the way the professional game in Scotland has turned out after the creation of the so-called "super clubs".

Edinburgh's signing of Australian stand-off superstar Stephen Larkham has been thrown into doubt with Carruthers set to give control of Edinburgh back to the SRU.

Sole said: "The Edinburgh/Scotland thing is a bit of a nonsense, two egos colliding.

"What does Stephen Larkham think he has let himself in for?

"If this had happened before he signed his contract he would be looking to take up one of the other offers that he was allegedly being made. The people I feel sorry for are the players. We forget they earn their livelihood from the game.

"With this sort of uncertainty it must be desperate for them. If I was in that situation I would look at the choices I had and, damn sure, I would not be playing rugby in Scotland.

"I'd go and look towards working for a much more reasonably minded employer than appears to be the case in Edinburgh, which is a dreadful indictment."

Despite such misgivings Sole refuses to say 'I told you so' regarding the professional structure.

"I'm very saddened when I see what has happened to Scottish club rugby.

"It is no secret that I and a number of others were very strongly advocating in 1995 for professional rugby to remain with clubs.

"That was based on an infrastructure already in existence through the clubs and support for and familiarity with clubs.

"Also from an economic perspective, it was never going to be sustainable to create four professional sides controlled by the SRU. The matches did not add up. It gives me no pleasure to say we were right when we forecast in 1995 what would happen.

"But we are where we are and I do sense a strength of feeling among clubs and a desire to make things better in the future. At national level Frank Hadden is restoring some of the pride that did not exist under other coaches.

"This is creating a degree of following not only among international fans but back in the clubs.

"The number of people playing rugby in Scotland is growing for the first time in years but it is a long haul," concluded Sole, who was speaking with Scottish Rugby Radio.

This article: http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/rugby.cfm?id=1235962007

This article was posted on 7-Aug-2007, 11:19 by Hugh Barrow.