THE HERALD REPORTS
Hawick plight underlines threat to grassroots rugby

KEVIN FERRIE, Chief Rugby Writer

Scotland's most famous rugby club, Hawick, has issued a plea for former members to help preserve their status among the game's elite, underlining the impact of professionalism on the sport at grassroots level.
Billy Murray, their president, yesterday explained that the demands being made by players in the open era are causing enormous problems for small-town clubs, not least the 12-time Scottish champions.
"This is going to be a really tough season," Murray said. "It's just a struggle which is getting worse and worse, and it's been coming for the last two or three years. We are counting the costs of the introduction of professionalism a few years back. Attracting and retaining players requires money."
He stressed that the club were not in financial difficulties, but the message is that they are not prepared to go into the red in order to bring in talent.
"Many players today expect us to pay them a wage, provide housing and often a car," Murray said. "In Hawick we do not have the money that the richer clubs have and you can't blame the players for seeking fame and fortune elsewhere."
The club were thrashed by champions Glasgow Hawks last season, while captain Roddy Deans, John Houston and Cammy Bruce are set to join Heriot's.
That a love of rugby is still part of the fabric of town is evident at youth level, Hawick teams claiming a succession of national titles at under-18 and under-15 levels. Additional support and funding is being sought to bring in experienced players.
Murray believes the townsfolk in particular will respond to his appeal. "It's not just here. Club membership is dropping off everywhere, so what we are doing is making an effort to get people back," he said. "What we have is passion and tradition, and the best supporters in Scotland. Now is the time to rally round our team."
At a time when the likes of Currie, who announced they were in dire financial straits last season, are still believed to be spending money to recruit, there is a clear warning for the entire club game, as Kenny Hamilton of the Premier One Forum acknowledged.
"Of the 12 clubs in last season's Premiership only one said they were going to break even last season. Of those, eight reported they would be making a deficit for a second successive year, and six for a third successive year," he said.
"The only way we can move forward is to get a very different structure to our game, looking at introducing a form of semi-professionalism at Premier level."
Hamilton accepted that is unaffordable in the short term but expressed optimism about the way negotiations are going regarding player movement between the pro teams and leading clubs.
That goodwill is being jeopardised, however, by scheduling for the new season, which will mean pro matches played more frequently on Saturdays. SRU officials deny that is directly linked to the new sponsorship deal with VisitScotland.
Within the pro teams there is deep concern. They are gagged because they are employed by the SRU, but Hamilton effectively voiced their concerns.
"Every conversation I've had with the pro team guys is that they and their supporters like Friday night rugby, and that by switching to Saturdays they are bringing in conflict between club supporters and players and the pro sides," he said.
"A substantial percentage of the core support from clubs comes from clubs, so it is daft and it is particularly unfortunate, because it is causing unnecessary conflict."

This article was originally posted on 16-Aug-2005, 07:48 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 16-Aug-2005, 07:52.