Ex Hawk George Breckenridge who played in the club's first ever league match against Gala in 1997 has increased the Anniesland influence out at Burnbrae by joining up with John Beattie and they will also be joined by Glasgow Academy's last season's captain Robert McAlpine


The Scotsman reports
Beattie entering the twilight zone



Published Date: 27 August 2009
By David Ferguson
JOHN Beattie believes clubs like his, West of Scotland, are now operating in something of a twilight zone between amateur and professional rugby, but as he gears up for Saturday's Scottish Hydro Division One kick-off against Watsonians he is confident his youngsters can keep the Burnbrae club among the elite of the club game.
The former Scotland back row combines coaching West with a broad spectrum of broadcasting, property and charity work, and says it is a simple but deep love of club rugby that brings him back for more. He now has George Breckenridge, the former Glasgow player and coach of Heriot's among others, assisting him with the backs, the experienced David McLean having retired, and Gordon Bulloch, the ex-Scotland captain, and former pro lock Guy Perrett are back in harness for another season guiding the young talent at West. And that is the West story this term, according to Beattie – guiding young talent.

"We are sort of doing the 'Selkirk' model, if you like," he said. "We were very clever last year in the new draft in that we brought in pro or academy players we had a good idea would be available during the season, and we probably underestimated the influence guys like Roddy Grant, Peter Horne, Richie Vernon and Richie Gray would have to be honest.

"They were fantastic, and not only on the field, but as people they fitted in well and were great guys to have around the club. We won't see them this season, which is good in the sense that it is because they have developed and are now pushing for starting places with Glasgow, which is what we wanted to see.

"But we don't have the money to go out and replace those sorts of guys with big names or experience. We don't have the same tranche of young Glasgow talent available right now and while Glasgow Hawks have some great young players who probably won't all play, I don't think it's right that a rival club calls them up and tries to persuade them to leave and come to you.

"My belief is that West is about nurturing and developing young players coming through this club, and guys that arrive in the city and want to play some rugby here, and giving them opportunities to play senior rugby. But how long we can survive doing that I don't know.

"That's where I see this new area between professional and amateur rugby developing," he continued. "There are clubs in Division One in Scotland with money to bring in players. We have seen what Ayr have done this summer in adding about 15 or 16 new players, including several from abroad, and Heriot's have also recruited well.

"We were training four days a week in July, with new strength and conditioning programmes on top, after receiving advice from Ken McEwan at Murrayfield, but these are guys with day jobs, and some are doctors or lawyers, so they have big commitments. They don't actually want to be pro players, but they are talented sportsman who love playing rugby and it's getting harder at this level.

"Division One is moving inexorably towards semi-professionalism, helped by clubs now taking part in a British and Irish Cup with pro and semi-pro players. That's great for the game and for those clubs with the money to compete, but others are bound to drop out. The challenge is how you try to make sure you're not one of them, yet."

In this Scotsman series previewing the new Scottish Hydro Division One season we have interviewed all the top 12 clubs and while most share the belief that they exist to develop Scottish talent, they have expressed varying ways to achieve it.

Beattie has recruited a number of youngsters to his squad this season, Scotland under-18 prop Matt Bradford from Allan Glens, and a Scottish-qualified prop from Toronto, Craig Johnstone, as well as Watsonians wing Gary Dempsey, David Bygrave, a full-back from Auckland studying at Glasgow University, and ex-Dundee HSFP lock Mark Jenkinson, who is back in the city having qualified as a doctor.

Coming through from West's own youth system is Scotland under-17s scrum-half Murray McConnell and under-18s capped prop Robert McAlpine, while another West product, Dave Young, captains the side this season. However, West have lost scrum-half Jamie Hunter to Ayr.

"That is the way of life," added Beattie. "I'm happy with the squad, and the atmosphere and spirit we have, and this is the way we want to do it. We had thousands of youngsters playing mini-rugby last week and we will continue to provide that service of developing rugby players, having a good rugby club community, wherever the first XV plays. I'm not a great coach, but I enjoy it and I say to the players this is the best days of their lives if they enjoy it too.

"We'll all be fighting to avoid relegation for the first few months, but I'm confident we have a squad that is talented and determined enough to stay in Division One for a bit longer."

WEST OF SCOTLAND

Formed: 1865

Ground: Burnbrae

Colours: Red and yellow hoops

Coaches: John Beattie and George Breckenridge

Captain: Dave Young

Players in: Mark Jenkinson (Dundee HSFP), Craig Johnstone (Toronto), David Bygrave (Auckland University), Matt Bradford (Allan Glens), Robert McAlpine (Glasgow Academy), Murray McConnell, Gary Dempsey (Watsonians).

Players out: Jamie Hunter (Ayr), Roddy Grant, Peter Horne, Richie Gray and Richie Vernon (all pros now full-time 1st XV members with Edinburgh and Glasgow).

2008/09 position: 6th

2009/10 prediction: 8th

This article was originally posted on 27-Aug-2009, 07:48 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 27-Aug-2009, 18:22.