Neil Drysdale in todays Herald

Boroughmuir, runaway leaders of the Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership, have confirmed that they are seeking talks with the Scottish Rugby Union aimed at earning the championship winners a place in the second-tier European Challenge Cup.

A spokesman for the Meggetland club, who lead the division by 13 points after 10 straight victories, argued that, while he did not expect any Scottish club side to find life easy against the leading English and French clubs, there is a growing feeling that progressive organisations like Boroughmuir, Melrose, Glasgow Hawks and Watsonians could adapt to performing at a higher level.

"There could be a proposal put to the next meeting of the Scottish Premier Clubs Association, in early December, urging them to press the SRU for a club side to be allowed the chance to play in Europe," said Stan Watt, the Boroughmuir president. "We know it will be tough but, if that club was to be Boroughmuir, I am confident that we have the players, the coaches and facilities at Meggetland to be able to compete."

A senior SRU source spelled out the difficulties which will almost certainly scupper the hopes of Boroughmuir and other clubs.

"This issue has already been tested in practice when Wales reduced the number of their pro teams from five to four. In order to try and retain a Heineken Cup slot, the WRU proposed that they could enter a side from their Premiership into the Challenge Cup, but ERC did not accept the proposal," said the source.

However, Kenny Hamilton, the Glasgow Hawks chairman, yesterday backed the calls for Scotland's top club players to be given a ticket to the European stage. "I think our club champions should be participating. They will need financial support, which should come from the European income to the SRU. We would also need to adjust our season but, if there is a willingness to find solutions, we can."

12:19am today



By NEIL DRYSDALE

This article was posted on 9-Nov-2007, 08:18 by Hugh Barrow.