It's Like Brexit - So-Much To Do: So-Little Time

THERE is no single stream to today's blog, just some random thoughts, on various issues which have caught my eye of late.

If we work to the old rugby calendar, which ran from 1 September until 30 April, we have 110 days left of this season. I accept, with their need to string things out and keep the cash coming in, the professional side of the game will carry on into May, but, for most of us, the boots and jockstraps will be packed away by the end of April.

We are now just over 200 days away from the 2019 SRU AGM. Within those 200 days:

• Gavin MacColl QC's Governance group has to report
  
  
• That report has to be written-up, distributed to the clubs, for review
  
  
• Any motions arising, to be debated at the AGM, need to be drafted, sent-in, cleared as competent, sent back to the clubs for their information, prior to debate
  
  
• In particular, we need some clarity over the vexed issue of where the Super-6's “core clubs” will play

As regards S6, we would quite like to know:

• When they will be playing, both in terms of their overall season, and also in terms of when over the weekends they will actually kick-off
  
  
• The six clubs would also like clarification on media and merchandising rights

If Brexit is a clusterfuck in which several key issues have been, and still are being kicked down the road, perhaps in the hope they will go away – in some ways the SRU is being equally lax in making decisions over S6 and its follow-up Agenda-3. Time for a bit of clarity.

SPEAKING of which, one of the key details in S6 is that of the cross-border games with the leading Welsh Premiership clubs.

“Dai the Spy,” my contact in the valleys, was telling me this week, the Welsh Premiership Forum and the WRU had a joint meeting this week, at which a sub-committee (the Welsh do love their sub-committees) was appointed to handle the Welsh end of sorting out the cross-border games schedule.

So, the Welsh are moving, and taking this seriously. It is going to happen. I understand, BBC Wales, who already offer live coverage of one Welsh Premiership match each week, and highlights coverage of the rest, are keen to cover the cross-border games. The S6 clubs are very-hopeful of BBC Scotland or STV also coming on-board, for coverage of their games, perhaps on BBC Alba.

Talks are on-going, I hear.

I GOT some interesting feed-back on my last post, when I pondered as to whether or not the SRU had got professionalism “right” yet. That one-man army of Galashiels obduracy, Ron Sutherland, offered this little gem for discussion:

“Outside of the Murrayfield bubble, there are learned purists who believe the role of a Governing Body Of Sport is to 1. promote, 2. support proper development and 3. regulate competitive activities within the said sport.

Under no circumstances does the foregoing include any actual, financial or competitive participation within the afore-mentioned sport - thereby giving rise to conflicts of interest and distorted objectives.”

Good points – well made as usual Ron.

“Clubfan,” another regular poster of btl comments on the blog, came back with this:

“You are spot on Ron. As soon as the regulator becomes a “player” and fairness and neutrality go out the window.

I was listening to Brian Moore’s podcast yesterday. He advocated the RFU buying out all the owners of the premiership teams and moving to a closed league. I had to re-listen to check I had heard him correctly.

To be fair to Brian he was talking about player welfare and how Pro 14 and super rugby manage their players better citing Ireland as the poster boys of that approach. I would agree with him.

I wonder where the RFU would get the £500+ million to buy the clubs and then pay all the salaries??”

I have not yet had time to listen to the esteemed Mr Moore's podcast, but, I will.

That brought Ron Sutherland back to the table, with the following:

“'Pitbull'” was probably flying a typically provocative kite....!

I reckon our cousins and kinsmen have just about got all of this right in the Land of the Long White Cloud:

"New Zealand Rugby (NZR) leads, supports, grows and promotes New Zealand's game.

NZR has offices in Wellington and Auckland as well as a number of staff based around New Zealand. NZR is one of New Zealand's largest sports organisations, with a team of employees committed to ensuring that our national game is run smoothly and effectively at all levels, all over New Zealand. As a modern, professional sport, rugby encompasses a wide range of activities and functions.

Our people manage our national teams, administration of our national competitions, and participation in international competitions and matches - including Test matches - as well as assisting community rugby throughout the country.

NZR has direct relationships with its members, including all 26 Provincial Unions, Investec Super Rugby organisations and commercial and charity partners as well as international rugby bodies and stakeholders, such as the New Zealand Government."

Given the closeness of the two nations in terms of population and much else, and the considerable impact Scottish emigrants have had in New Zealand over the years, there has always been a closeness between the two countries.

Ron makes sensible, excellent points, regarding the organisation of the NZRU, just on wee thing, however Ron. Your description of how the NZRU works – satellite offices around the country, is that not something like Districts? And you should know, the D word is never to be uttered within earshot of Murrayfield – we must always defer to Rugby Central.

Might we, in time, once two of the Edinburgh franchises have collapsed, and Murrayfield has realised, for S6 to work properly, they need franchises in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee, perhaps see the Super clubs acting as de facto Districts? But, I am not holding my breath on this.

AND FINALLY, on the Sports Heritage Scotland page on Facebook this morning, someone posted a newspaper cutting of the teams from an Inter-District Saturday in 1978. There was listed all four teams playing that day, when the fixtures were: Glasgow v North and Midlands, and South v Edinburgh.

The North and Midlands XV, plus two nominated reserves, were drawn from eight clubs: Dunfermline, Dundee HSFP, Glenrothes, Gordonians, Highland, Howe of Fife, Kirkcaldy an Moray. The Glasgow XV was pulled from five clubs: Ayr, Glasgow Academicals, Jordanhill, Kilmarnock and West of Scotland.

The South squad also brought together players from five clubs: Gala, Hawick, Jed-forest, Melrose and Selkirk; while the Edinburgh squad contained players from six clubs: Boroughmuir, Haddington, Heriot's, Leith Academicals, Stewart's-Melville and Watsonians. Very interesting.