THE HERALD REPORTS

SRU: we are not driving players away
KEVIN FERRIE, Chief Rugby Writer August 04 2009
The Scottish Rugby Union have defended their selection policy following claims they are driving players into the hands of rival countries.

Criticism of their systems came from the father of Ross McCann, the former Glasgow District under-18 captain who has now qualified to play for Italy after he felt forced to pursue his ambition to become a professional in that country.

Graham McCann's strong views were prompted by my article in The Herald last week questioning the SRU's commitment to professional rugby in the west of the country.


"May I add some anecdotal weight to your article," he wrote. "My son, Ross McCann, captained Glasgow district U18 side two years ago when they beat Edinburgh district 27-10. He played at centre and he and the other backs hammered their opposite numbers.

"Their domination was embarrassing really and yet when the national squads were announced the Edinburgh lads got the nod. The annoying thing is that we know, as a small nation, we have got to make best use of what natural resources we have.

"The present U20 squad came back from Japan scraping a 10th place and to my knowledge only Richie Gray has had any pro experience," he added. "Anyway there is a happy ending to this my lad has been with Viadana in Italy for the last two seasons in their youth setup, has played for their first team and now has Italian eligibility. How many of Scotland's under 20 squad are likely to make it as pros? Not many, I think. Perhaps if I had played for Scotland, or if I could have afforded to send him to a private school things may have been different."

Responding to Mr McCann's comments, the SRU claimed that their selection policies are fair and inclusive at all levels. "Everyone has their own opinions about selection and, quite naturally, you would expect a father to be supportive of his son," said their spokesman. "However, the process by which players are selected to represent Scotland is meticulous, robust and strives at all times to be fair and objective.

"Of that Glasgow under-18 team of two years ago, to which your correspondent refers, four members went on to represent Scotland at the most recent IRB Junior World Championship in Japan.

"In addition to Richie Gray, they were Nick Campbell, Andrew White and Grant Anderson. Anderson has also represented Scotland 7s on two occasions on the IRB World Series circuit.

"Furthermore, Scotland under-20 finished ninth in that most recent IRB Junior World Championship, one place above their official seeding. Grant Anderson scored four tries for Scotland under-20 during the World Championship.

"Of the four players to represent Scotland under-20 in the centre position in their 10 internationals in the past season (i.e. from the same age-group and same position as Ross McCann), three attended state schools in Scotland, one in the Glasgow Rugby area (Lockerbie Academy), the two others in Caledonia (Bell Baxter HS, Cupar; and Westhill Academy, Aberdeen), and the other attended a grammar school in England and came through the Scottish Exiles."

This article was posted on 4-Aug-2009, 06:53 by Hugh Barrow.