Hoots Mon, It's A Scoop, But, Let's Not Make A Big Issue Of It

YESTERDAY, we had a wonderful example of George Orwell's dictum: “News is something somebody does not want published – everything else is public relations.” This happened when The Hootsmon scooped the world, by publishing a picture of the new Scotland World Cup kit, one day before the official launch.

Of course, being The Hootsmon, and with Head of Sport Graham Bean on a day off and Rugby Writer Duncan Smith on-holiday, nobody noticed. Whatever, it was a grand fuck-up, but, this whole unveiling of the kit has been yet another example of how clueless the SRU currently is when it comes to public relations.

On Tuesday, those members of the press corps still welcomed at HQ were rounded-up to hear the earth-shattering news that the Union was sticking with Macron as kit suppliers in “a seven-figure deal.” The actual kit launch is today, while there will be a public event, to allow the season ticket holders to see the new kit, at Murrayfield, a week today.

Good luck at trying for three bites at the cherry SRU, but, I don't think there is the interest to justify this approach. That said, rather a good wee video on their Facebook page.

Any way, here are a couple of likely lads, wearing the new kit:

Hoggy and JB modelling the new RWC 2019 jerseys

By the way, my very-dear friend “Buddy” Horler is on-holiday, so, I cannot blame him for the cock-up.

STEVEN LONGWELL'S departure from Ayr, for the sunnier climes of Verona, has created a bit of a stir in the game here. In going to play in Italy, Steven is following in the footsteps of erstwhile team-mate Scott Lyle, who is with Venice in the top-flight of Italian domestic rugby.

Both left with the good wishes of the Ayr club and Glen Tippett, Chief Operating Officer at Ayr made it clear, when I spoke to him this week, they wish Steven all the best in his new life.

Steven Longwell - who now plays Verona

Looking ahead, Longwell and Lyle might be the trail-blazers of more players from the Scottish game going abroad – albeit, in moving to Italy they are only going where the likes of Stuart Magorian and Ross Curle have gone before.

I can well see Super-6 players, who fail to find a place with either Edinburgh or Glasgow, or in the second tier in England, increasingly moving to the second tier World Rugby countries in Europe. It would, I would surmise, be nice to sample life in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium or Spain or Portugal, for someone who has experienced S6.I can see this happening, and, when Scotland is independent and back inside the EU, such transitions will be easier.

WORLD RUGBY has this week confirmed the immediate law change to prevent “Axial-loading” at the scrum engagement, an issue on which I have already blogged. WR has also issued a very-clear and instructive document on the cognitive processes match officials should follow when assessing the penalty following a high tackle or shoulder charge.

I suggest ever5yone interested, and in particular the “Talking Heads” in the media who have to immediately pontificate during commentaries – if they did, it might save a lot of instances of “Foot In Mouth Disease.”

Of course, even then, there will still be motor-mouths getting it wrong, but, that's life. However, I found reading the World Rugby press release on this matter very illuminating.

Owen Farrell waits to hear if he's getting a red or a yellow card

And hopefully, somebody at Saracens will read the guide-lines and explain them to Owen Farrell, so he can work-out whether he is getting a red or a yellow card every time he assaults someone.