THE HERALD REPORTS

Now is not the time to panic, says Wright

NEIL DRYSDALE September 27 2008
These are treacherous times for everybody connected with Glasgow Hawks. As recently as five years ago, the Anniesland-based organisation was Scotland's leading rugby club, and rivals were not so much beaten as pummelled into the dust. Now, though, they lie adrift at the foot of the Premiership table, without a victory in their opening four games and having shipped 73 points to Boroughmuir a fortnight ago.

It is a sorry scenario for the Hawks director of rugby, Peter Wright and the former Scotland and Lions prop doesn't pretend that he is enjoying the experience. Yet Wright is preparing for the future by learning the lessons of the past and staying philosophical about the need to keep planning for the future. Other individuals might despair at the way Hawks have lost a more than decent Scotland XV to the professional ranks, including such diverse talents as Rory Lamont, Andy Henderson, Euan Murray, Gordon McIlwham and John Barclay, but Wright believes every Scottish club should be working to the same extent to nurture the grassroots and produce international stars.

"We have to be the stepping stone for the best players, and while I won't pretend that we haven't made a pretty disastrous start in the Premiership, that is less important than the bigger picture, which is to help raise the overall standard of the championship," said Wright, whose team face a tricky visit to Currie's Malleny Park this afternoon. "My big concern is that if we don't improve the quality of the league, it will be a dead duck within five years: yes, it might be okay for the community game and for social rugby, but it won't equip youngsters with the standard they need to make the next step up to the pro ranks.


"Just look at the facts. Four years ago, when we won the Premiership, we lost four players - Fergus Thomson, Colin Shaw, Eric Milligan and Steve Swindall - to Glasgow. But last year, there were only two guys - Jon Welsh and Marc Teague - who were offered pro contracts and that was from all 12 clubs in the top division. That shows you exactly why everybody has to forget about self-interest and buy into having a wider vision, but sadly, some of our leading clubs are concerned with nothing but their own preservation."

Wright never uses diplomatic language where he can hammer home his point, as several referees discovered to their cost in his playing career. His aversions include the media training courses from which many of Scotland's leading players have learned the art of speaking in banalities; the apparent preference, of some people within Murrayfield, for Southern Hemisphere coaches over indigenous talent; and the manner in which Caledonian rugby has descended into a self-fulfilling slough of despond.

"I went down to a meeting with Scotland's referees at Largs in August and although I have never been a big fan of officialdom, this was an opportunity for us to find out their thoughts on the new regulations. Well, the turn-out from the Premiership clubs was a disgrace. I think the union needs to offer more support to us, but it cuts both ways, and my own belief is that every club in the Premier One should be committed to providing two players for the professional ranks every year. If it happens, we would be much better off."

Ultimately, Wright appreciates the irony that the better a job he and his counterparts do, the less chance they have of achieving any sort of sustained success. But he is neither defeatist or pessimistic. "We are a young side, we have teenagers in our pack such as Andy Kirkland and Nick Campbell and some of the lads are trying to run before they can walk, but they will get there if we're patient, and we are looking at two, three seasons down the line, rather than fretting unduly.Of course we want to stay up, and we aren't comfortable being at the bottom of the pile, but I have faith in these boys and we have to stick with them. This sport can change very quickly. I know all about it."

This article was posted on 27-Sep-2008, 07:39 by Hugh Barrow.