THE HERALD REVEALS TODAY
KEVIN FERRIE, Chief Rugby Writer April 07 2009


Just four days after the fixture list was revealed for next year's Six Nations Championship, tickets are immediately being put on sale, but the Scottish Rugby Union have denied that doing so has anything to do with cash-flow problems.

The Herald was contacted last night by one supporter who had received an e-mail regarding the ticket release - which takes place tomorrow - and suggested the haste with which it has happened supported speculation that the organisation may be behind their budgetary targets for this season.

Some 15,000 tickets are being made available for each of next year's matches, against France (February 7) and England (March 13). That is unprecedentedly early and follows a season in which Murrayfield was sold out for only one of the five Scotland internationals at the national stadium.



The invitation to supporters said that: "Scottish Rugby is giving supporters the chance to purchase tickets for next year's eagerly anticipated clash with the Auld Enemy and the visit of France to Murrayfield."

While not factually inaccurate, in that every Calcutta Cup match is keenly looked forward to, the tone seems premature given that Scotland supporters are still reeling from this season's defeat by England which ultimately cost Frank Hadden, the head coach, his job. His departure was announced last Thursday, the same day Six Nations organisers announced next season's schedule.

An SRU spokesman said last night that it was "absolute nonsense" to suggest this has anything to do with cash-flow. The decision to release tickets is in line with customer feedback."

This article was posted on 7-Apr-2009, 07:09 by Hugh Barrow.