I HAVE previously posted on the subject of media management, as practiced by the SRU. There was a cracking example of this in The Scotsmen this morning, with no less than three separate pieces, all involving Tim Visser, who was clearly the latest member of the long World Cup squad to be put-up for media duties.
The Hootsman, I know, has severely cut back on personnel since I did some casual subbing shifts in their then home at the foot of Holyrood Road, at the start of the 21st century. At least two of the Visser pieces, and probably the third, which was unattributed on the website, were written by the very busy and ultra-enthusiastic Gary Heatly. Well done young Gary - but, come on guys, don't leave all the work to Gary.
THE latest media release from those hard-working youngsters at BT Murrayfield dropped into my inbox this morning. It concerned the personnel, playing and coaching, who jetted-off yesterday to an age group camp in Valladolid, Spain.
Good luck to the young wannabees involved, but, sadly, I must once again report that the chosen group is heavily-loaded towards the private school sector of the game. At least, the Borders is holding its end up, with several boys from Jedburgh and Hawick, and, Brian "Basil" Redpath's son, Cameron, who is being schooled in Macclesfield, rather than Melrose.
This camp is one of the bottom steps on the ladder to the top, but, hopefully, in a few years, we will see some of them wearing the thistle in Test matches.
Main man at the camp will be the experienced Eddie Pollock, assisted by, amongst others, Scotland and Lions legend Alan Tait and Currie Head Coach and this season's recipient of the McPhail Coaching Scholarship - which earned him a trip to New Zealand, Ben Cairns.
Main man at the camp will be the experienced Eddie Pollock, assisted by, amongst others, Scotland and Lions legend Alan Tait and Currie Head Coach and this season's recipient of the McPhail Coaching Scholarship - which earned him a trip to New Zealand, Ben Cairns.
One of the other coaches going to Spain is Ayr Honcho, Calum "Fossy" Forrester. Fossy has done a sterling job since switching from captaincy to coaching just over a year ago and his star is clearly on the rise.
This week Fossy was named as one of eight Scottish coaches who are being fast-tracked towards Level Four UK Coaching qualifications, which is as good as it gets these days. Also involved is Kenny Murray, former Ayr Honcho and now one of Toony's assistants at Glasgow.
The other coaches who will work towards Level Four are: Edinburgh's Steve Scott, Ben Fisher from Boroughmuir, big John Dalziel from Melrose, the Heriot's duo of main man Phil Smith and Stevie Lawrie, and Andrew Hall from Hong Kong.
The octet's course will be organised and run by Napier University and Sportscotland.
Two weeks in the Spanish sunshine, playing rugby - haud me back. Mind you, I don't know if Fossy told big Jock Craig, Ayr's Director of Rugby, he was jetting off to Spain on the very week the Millbrae Men started pre-season training. Rather him than me, big Auchlin has been a wee bit grumpy since his heart problems of the past year forced him to slow down a bit, and finally do what Brenda Craig tells him!!
The octet's course will be organised and run by Napier University and Sportscotland.
Two weeks in the Spanish sunshine, playing rugby - haud me back. Mind you, I don't know if Fossy told big Jock Craig, Ayr's Director of Rugby, he was jetting off to Spain on the very week the Millbrae Men started pre-season training. Rather him than me, big Auchlin has been a wee bit grumpy since his heart problems of the past year forced him to slow down a bit, and finally do what Brenda Craig tells him!!
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