Finally - Some Meat On The Bones Of Change

TO PARAPHRASE that old late seventies/early eighties American sitcom “SOAP” - “Confused – you were” until this week, when the Kremlin's security system was briefly breached, and we learned a wee bit more about Super-6/Agenda-3.

We already knew, although some of the Aye Been tendency were reluctant to accept the fact, that Super-6 would be happening; this has now been confirmed, although we still await some essential detail on how it will run.

We didn't know how the new tier of the game would affect the existing club game, and how Agenda-3 would impact this. We still do not have as much detail as some would like, but, apparently:

• There will be no relegation out of the Tennent's Premiership at the end of this season.
  
  
• However, the six “core” clubs of the franchise winners, WILL be displaced, from the Championship (the new top level of the club game) down to National League 1.

Basically this means, the top of the club game next season will look like this:

Staying-put in the Championship, as the Premiership will become:

Currie Chieftains

Edinburgh Academical

Glasgow Hawks

Hawick

They will be joined by the top six in this season's National League 1, currently as placed in the table:

Marr

Jed-forest

GHA

Selkirk

Musselburgh

Gala

Seventh-paced Aberdeen Grammar are also in the mix for the half dozen Championship spots. They are seventh, just two points adrift of Gala, but, crucially 18 ahead of Kelso, and there are a mere five fixtures left. Clearly, the six Championship newcomers will come from these seven clubs.

The six amateur clubs, from the franchise-winners, will go into National 1, alongside the remaining half dozen. As things currently stand this will mean National 1 next season will comprise:

Ayr

Boroughmuir

Heriot's

Melrose

Stirling County

Watsonians

Aberdeen Grammar

Kelso

Hamilton

Dundee HSFP

Cartha-Queen's Park

Kirkcaldy

There might, however, be a play-off involving the bottom teams in the current National 1 and the top of National 2 – but this has not yet been clarified.

Gavin MacColl and his team have had a pretty thankless task, trying to reconcile many different views, a lot of them including a heady amount of self-interest. Apparently the S6 clubs, certainly those to whom I have spoken, are quite happy with a placement in National 1 for their club XVs – since the squads for this league will involve those current Premiership players who are unable to commit to Super-6 plus the best of their current 2^nd XVs. The S6 guys believe, in National 1, such squads will be competitive.

I must admit a bit of personal bias. I believe 12-club leagues are too big. I would rather we did not go beyond 10-club divisions. And I certainly believe the MacColl group's recommendation of four “National” leagues – Championship; National 1; National 2 and National 3 is a case of at least one division and six clubs too many.

The recommendation is also that movement between the various divisions be on the basis of one-up/one-down. I would suggest there is a case of having a promotion/relegation play-off for a second spot up and down.

Now we come to the awkward bit. MacColl appears to be backing the official SRU view, that, all leagues below the Championship – where a certain level of payment will be allowed – should be “strictly amateur.”

Sorry folks, but, this is a cue to get your money into backing companies manufacturing brown envelopes, for stuffing into the toecaps of boots. The genie was let out of the bottle in 1995, there is no way it is going back in 24 years later.

Rugby Union is neither an “amateur” or a “professional” game. Nothing wrong with describing the club game as “amateur”, since the majority of the players play for the love of the game, indeed, down in the regional leagues, they nearly all pay to play.

But, in 1995, Rugby Union went “OPEN” - it allowed payment to players and coaches. There is nothing against the rules of the world game to prevent a club from paying players or coaches, and, should the SRU attempt to enforce a “strictly amateur” rule, I think they would lose.

However, it is better that clubs, if they wish to pay some players – perhaps a player-coach, do so officially, legally and openly, rather than, what I am sure will happen if the SRU tries to enforce strict amateurism, paying in brown envelopes, stuffed into boots.

As I said right at the start, Super-6 is happening, whether its opponents like it or not. The arguments against it are over. However, the new clubs league set-up will require to be rubber-stamped at a SGM, which will take place some time in March, apparently, since it requires validation by the clubs. That meeting should be fun.

Aristotle's gossip column

I HEAR TCD's successes on the commercial front – fair play to the guy, he has done well in that area – has been noted at Twickenham, where they are looking for a new CEO. Apparently some of their Bufties have been chatting to our Bufties about him.

THE SRU Board is due to meet tomorrow night, and I hear there is to be confirmation of the new Independent Board Member, to replace dear old 'Beastie' McLauchlan, who has now served his due term, and more. Hopefully, however, we have not seen the last of one of the legends of the game.

It's bye-bye Beastie after a lengthy spell on the board

I understand the new Board member will be another wummin, and a well-known one at that. I can hardly wait to hear who she is.

OUR High Heid Yins have been waging an uphill battle in recent seasons, to get Scottish referees recognised as being competent to handle bigger games and it appears to be paying off.

That excellent wee Anglo-Scot, Ben Blain will make his Guinness PRO14 debut on Saturday, when he takes charge of the Dragons v Munster clash at Rodney Parade. He has the excellent Keith Allen on one flag, and another newbie – the impressive young Finlay Brown on the other, while Dave Pearson in the TV truck, completes an all-Scottish officiating team.

Ben Blain - PRO14 debut in Newport

Mind you, you cannot hide the SRU's liking for value for money. Mike Adamson is on the whistle for Cardiff v Connacht, where he is joined by Lloyd Linton alongside Welsh due Adam Jones and Ian Davies. Do you think maybe our quintet are being sent down in the same car, to save money?

Another two Scottish officials are on PRO14 duty, on Friday night, with Dave Sutherland on first flag and Charles Samson in the TV truck for Glasgow v Ospreys. They might be busy – Lacey has the whistle.