EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REVEALS
BILL LOTHIAN ([email protected])
FESTIVE club rugby is set to return to Edinburgh after a lapse of several years - with Scotland's international prestige a major beneficiary.

The Evening News has learned that moves are afoot to give the clubs' international team a dummy run ahead of two fixtures - against Ireland and possibly, also, Wales - early next year.

And the shadow squad are expected to take the field under the banner of the Co-Optimists Select on Saturday December 29 at Raeburn Place as part of celebrations to mark Edinburgh Academicals' 150th anniversary.

With coaches George Breckenridge and Ian Rankin set to be re-appointed it seems suggestions put forward by the latter in these columns around Christmas 2006, that the clubs' international team should be based on some form of trial, will be acted upon.

Then, Rankin said: "Rugby is part of the entertainment industry so there should be games at this time of the year. Why not amateur international trials?

"Of course the club game is increasingly being played by younger men, many of them students who return home for Christmas. But everybody likes a bit of recognition and the Scotland amateur team is in a position to provide it."

It is possible that Accies will be reinforced by stars of the Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership and full details of the fixture are to be announced later today at Murrayfield.

Here confirmation is expected of the Ireland v Scotland clubs international on February 22, a fortnight after a match in Wales.

A source said: "It is highly likely that by 2008-09 a full programme of club international fixtures will be running parallel to the RBS Six Nations with the possible exception of a game against France."

This article was posted on 27-Nov-2007, 12:44 by Hugh Barrow.