Flawed Yes - But, Making The Best Of An Ill-Divided World

FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE HARD OF LEARNING

1. SUPER-6 is a deeply-flawed concept
2. The SRU has handled its inauguration badly
3. The six clubs are actually doing them a favour by taking-on young player development
4. These six clubs are united in their determination to make it work
5. Like it or not, it is going to happen, kicking-off on 9 November
6. There is nothing its opponents within the game in Scotland can now do to stop it – so, if you cannot be positive about S6, save yourselves grief – AND SHUT THE FUCK UP ABOUT IT.

I MAKE no apologies for the above rant, I am simply becoming pissed-off at repeated refusal by readers of this blog to accept the reality of the situation around this new tier of rugby.

Certainly, it has had a difficult birth, but, if it works even half as well as its supporters hope, it will, by the end of its initial five-year spell, have been good for the game here.

It is designed to “hot-house” those young players who do not, at ages 18-20, have the ability to convince the pro team coaches, they are ready for full-time rugby.

Initially, the bulk of the players will have cut their teeth in the Tennent's Premiership over the past two or three seasons. Who knows, some of these players may be late-flowerers, or slow-developers, who, with the greater demands being made of them by S6, flourish and win PRO14 contracts.

The main hope, however, is that the young guys, coming out of the age group and Academy system, train-on in S6 to win those elusive contracts.

{There is a caveat here, however. Received wisdom has it that the FOSROC Scottish Rugby Academy is, to use that favourite BT Murrayfield phrase - “not fit for purpose.” If the SRU can sort out the failings in its Academy system – hopefully finding a way to fire the “broken arrows” within it, it will help S6 and the wider game.}

I certainly believe, training with their S6 clubs will prove beneficial to the young Stage III players. Their S6 coaches will be able to devote more time to their personal development than can be achieved while they are training as part of the wider Edinburgh and Glasgow squads.

However, as with all professional or semi-professional sport, it all comes down to MONEY, and just this week, we had a demonstration of how the SRU, in trying to improve youth development is labouring under a lack of cash.

I am thankful to Birkmyre coach Brian McMillan, for drawing my attention to this following item of news. Brian is the father of Scotland Women's internationalists Louise and Siobahn McMillan, so, he keeps a weather eye on the women's game.

Brian forwarded a news item, detailing how Exeter Chiefs are funding, at an estimated cost of £2 million, the setting-up from scratch of a Women's team – in the hope of winning a place in England's Tetley's Premier 15, the top flight of Women's rugby in the UK.

{A wee history lesson, the Premier 15 is about to embark on its third season, the length of time the RFU gave it when they inaugurated the league. The performance, against certain KPIs (known performance indicators) of the existing ten clubs will be assessed and the top six clubs will have their licences to compete in the league renewed for a further three years.

The Other four clubs will then compete, alongside new sides such as Exeter for the remaining four places in the competition for seasons 2020-2021 to 2022-23.}

So, while Exeter are committing this cash, they do not have a guarantee of success in getting into the league. Despite this, they have hired a coaching team and are busy recruiting players.

That's one club, committing between £500,000 and £1 million in start-up costs, and estimating: to do the job properly they will need to find at least £1 million per season, to develop the women's game.

Compare these costs with the £4 million which the SRU is putting into the six Super-6 franchises over five years, and it is apparent how ill-divided is rugby's financial landscape.

Exeter is not talking about having a full-time women's team, mirroring their successful men's squad of the likes of Sam Skinner and Stuart Hogg. Their women's team members will be semi-professional, juggling their rugby commitments with a day job or university or college studies, just like the S6 men players up here.

Aye, as my late sainted Mother would say regularly: “Son, it's an ill-divided world.”

SPEAKING OF Ayrshire Bulls, they have today announced a further three squad members, all players returning from last season. The trio are Scotland Under-20 forwards, lock/flanker Marshall Sykes and prop Euan McLaren, both of whom are FORSOC Scottish Rugby Academy Stage III players, and returning kiwi lock Lars Morrice.

Announcing the signings, Bulls' Head Coach Peter Murchie said: “Lars Morrice: It is great news that Lars is signed up for the Ayrshire Bulls. Lars made a big impact for Ayr FC least season when he came in during November. It is great to see another Scottish- qualified talent want to stay in Scotland. Lars is training with Glasgow Warriors at the moment, which is great for his development and I am sure we will see the benefits of that this season coming season.

Marshall: Marshall made a big impression at Ayr RFC last season, which considering it was his first year out of school in a combative position is good going. He sustained an unfortunate injury in November which stopped any future involvement during the season. He is fully recovered now and made it back in time for the JWC. We look forward to seeing how he further develops with the Bulls this season.

Euan: Euan has been with Ayr RFC for two seasons and continues to develop and improve his game. He is capable of doing things that not many other props can do in terms of his ball-carrying and his skills-set. After starting the majority of games in the JWC we are looking for him to make his mark this season.”