LINKS BETWEEN P1 CLUBS AND PRO-TEAMS

LINKS BETWEEN P1 CLUBS AND PRO-TEAMS TO BE STRENGTHENED
Posted: 22/Jun/08
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Scottish Rugby is working hard with its pro-teams to bolster links with Premier 1 clubs.

We can confirm today that a key part of this strategy has seen all 72 professional players with Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors allocated to clubs in Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership Division 1 for the forthcoming season.

The agreement is part of a revised protocol between the 12 clubs in Premier 1 and the two pro-teams, which was finalised after amicable discussions involving the 12, the pro-team head coaches, Andy Robinson (Edinburgh) and Sean Lineen (Glasgow Warriors) and Scottish Rugby's high performance and community staff.

The allocation of players was carried out by a drafting process whereby the runners-up in last seasons Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership Division 2, Selkirk, had first pick of the pro players. Selection then continued in turn up to last seasons champions, Boroughmuir, with each club choosing one player.

Ray Mountford, secretary of the Premier 1 forum, said: "The P1 clubs all agreed to a change in protocol such that every club had an equal chance of fielding professional players in their teams and through this process agreed to increase the differential of pro players between clubs in any one match to two such that more fringe professionals could gain game time.

"The full allocation of all professionals was also warmly welcomed as providing stronger club links with today's rugby stars that should encourage club players and supporters, young and old, to get behind the professional and national teams."

Edinburgh head coach Andy Robinson endorsed the draft and believes regular competitive rugby will benefit the members of his first team squad.

Robinson said: It is imperative that every player within the Edinburgh squad gets to play regular rugby and we saw the benefits of that happening last season. Players such as Geoff Cross and Greig Laidlaw experienced lots of game-time in Premier One which enabled them to hit the ground running when called up for first team duties rather than being ring rusty from a lack of match practice.

It also gives players on the fringes of first team activity an opportunity to showcase their merits in a competitive league such as Premier One so that they can earn a place in the starting line-up. Rugby players need to play rugby.

Glasgow Warriors assistant coach, Shade Munro, said: The clubs have played a massive part in helping the professional players get to where they are today, so this is a great opportunity for the players to give something back.

The pro-team players receive coaching and advice every day - from specific rugby skills to nutrition - so hopefully they can pass on their knowledge through their allocated clubs and help the development of the new generation of professional players.

Colin Thomson, Scottish Rugbys Head of Community Rugby, said: The revised protocol is a clear demonstration of the desire of Scottish Rugby, our pro-teams and clubs in Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership Division 1 to cement the improving relationship between the club and professional teams.

We all want to see players playing. Clearly not all professional players will play for the Premier 1 club to which they have been allocated during the season as they will have commitments to their pro-team and potentially international obligations too.

But this agreement means that some professional players who are on the fringe of selection for their pro-teams get the opportunity to play and share their experiences from the professional tier with some of the best players in the community game and this is being seen as a positive step for Scottish Rugby.

The allocation is:-

Club 1 2 3 4 5 6
Selkirk Sean Crombie -hooker Simon Cross back row Ben Meyer scrum-half Gavin Kerr prop Ross Ford hooker Phil Godman stand-off
W of Scot Jon Welsh prop Richie Vernon back row Colin Gregor stand-off/scrum-half Andrew Henderson centre Fergus Thomson hooker Johnnie Beattie No 8
Ed Accies David Blair- stand-off Greig Laidlaw scrum-half Hefin OHare - wing Mike Blair scrum-half Hugo Southwell full-back Ben Gissing lock
Gla Hawks Eric Milligan- hooker Colin Shaw wing/full-back Stevie Swindall back row Max Evans wing Graeme Morrison centre Thom Evans wing
Hawick Matt Dey centre Opeta Palepoi lock Calum Macrae full-back/wing Chris Paterson stand-off/full-back/wing Matt Mustchin lock/flanker Dan Parks stand-off
Stirling Co Ryan Grant prop John Houston centre Roland Reid wing/back-row Allister Hogg back row Alastair Kellock lock Mark McMillan scrum-half
Heriots Jim Thompson centre/full-back Steven Turnbull lock Alan MacDonald back row Nick De Luca - centre Ross Rennie flanker Bernardo Stortoni full-back
Ayr Calum Forrester back row James Eddie lock/back row Ruaridh Jackson stand off
Moray Low prop Sam Pinder scrum-half Lome Faatau wing
Currie Andrew Easson centre Andrew Turnbull wing Dan Turner lock Ben Cairns centre Simon Webster wing Dougie Hall hooker
Melrose Scott Newlands flanker Geoff Cross prop Mark Robertson wing Kelly Brown back row Kevin Tkachuk - prop Tim Barker lock
Watsonians Kyle Traynor prop Craig Hamilton lock Andrew Kelly - hooker Darryl Gibson centre Jim Hamilton lock John Barclay flanker
Bormuir Steven Lawrie hooker Fraser McKenzie lock/flanker Ed Kalman prop Allan Jacobsen prop Dave Callam back row Justin Vaa prop