And It's Goodbye From Them

SPEAKING to another of Scottish Rugby's 'Silverbakcs' this week, he commented: “Times must be really hard for you guys in the rugby media – even Barney is struggling to find things to write about.”

Very true, I just produce this drivel to keep my hand in, how the likes of the wonderful Mr Barnes, running a commercial operation, remains sane at this time is a mystery to me.

But, there are occasional nuggets to be chewed over – such as the current announcements of new signings and leavers from our full-time professional clubs.

Ruaridh Jackson - the best moustache in rugby is retiring

Sadly, with the game in lockdown, such good and faithful servants as John Barclay and Ruaridh Jackson or Leone Nakarawa (If he does move on from Glasgow) or Callum Gibbins will be denied the tear-stained, emotional farewell they probably deserve. That is regrettable, mind you, I would love to see the two Scots doing an Andy Henderson an Alan Bulloch or Pat McArthur and stepping down to spend maybe a couple of seasons with a top club side, passing-on their expertise to the next generation.

In some respects, Edinburgh and Glasgow have, I think, recruited some core supporters who do not fit the template for traditional rugby fans. Like supporters of our bigger football teams, they follow that team, rather than the game in general. If football is any guide, such fans would love to see their side recruiting big stars, whom they pay a lot of money for very little, and with no regard for the cost implications – whereas the more-traditional rugby fan would rather see the club he used to play for advancing on the back of home-grown talent which has been nurtured since micro-mini rugby.

I can see, in the much-altered face of rugby union in Scotland which will follow this pandemic, see our two professional sides being forced to use more home-grown talent. OK, like everyone else, I enjoy seeing X-factor players such as Nakarawa, Matawalu, van der Merwe (both of them) or Mata playing for a Scottish team, but, regardless of the Alan Hansen dictum about young players, I'd prefer to see these guys sprinkling their stardust over home-bred, Scottish talent.

In this respect, given his track record at Northampton Saints, perhaps Jim Mallinder will be the man to put in place a system whereby we have exciting, well-schooled, young Scottish talent, augmented by genuine world-class star talent, playing regularly for our two top sides.

I AM already beginning to feel sorry for Ian Barr, who is not due to take-up the toxic challenge of being SRU President until August. Where the bold Ian is concerned, he's already a Dickens novel – everyone has Great Expectations, given the low approval ratings Dee Bradbury currently has, and the even lower reputation enjoyed by her immediate predecessor.

The thing is, being President is a lot harder these days than it was in the good old days of the SRU General Committee. Back in the day, 'Alickadoos' such as the great Lord Bannerman, Hector Monro or Ian McGregor could spend 20-years scrambling up the greasy pole for that one year as president.

By the time they got there, they knew where most of the bodies were buried and had forged strong bonds with their contemporaries among the 'blazeratti' of the other countries. Back then too, the paid executives were very-much the secretariat of the game – the big decisions were still made by the elected representatives of the clubs.

If Mr Barr can lead a return to these days, he will have done the game a great service.

So, as I said, already there are great expectations around the incoming President. So, sorry Ian, but, here's another line for your already extensive “to do list.”

I have just filed an obituary on the late George Russell, a true rugby man to his core: for 50-years president of Moray House RFC, a former Edinburgh District Union player and selector, an Edinburgh selector – perhaps best-remembered in this role for championing the promotion to the full Edinburgh squad of one Bruce Hay, then with junior side Liberton.

George also served in the refereeing arm of Scottish rugby, on the grading and appointments committee, while he was a highly-popular liaison officer with various touring teams in Scotland. Along the way, he filled all 15 positions for Moray House, for whom he played until a hip replacement operation caused him to finally hang-up his boots, aged 72.

Then, as Chief Steward at Murrayfield, he kept most of the riff-raff out of the posh seats and away from Princess Anne.

However, he will be best-remembered for his long and still unwon fight to have the SRU remember where the game came from and re-establish a proper Scottish Rugby Museum at BT Murrayfield.

The high heid yins will not allow me anywhere near Headquarters, but, I am assured by those journalists who have a season ticket to the fun and games, no SRU AGM was complete before, under “Any other business” the bold George challenged the powers-that-be as to when we might see this long-promised by as yet undelivered museum actually delivered.

George, sadly, died earlier this month, aged 90, but, I know one or two of his mates among the golden oldies of Edinburgh and beyond are determined to see his long fight succeed.

So, I am happily adding my weight to the campaign. Come on Ian Barr: “DAE SOMETHIN'” and realise George's dream.

And, I can warn The Junta, George Russell might no longer be with us, but, his fight goes on, and will keep going until, hopefully sooner rather than later, it is won.

I had a couple of pictures of George, on a single jpeg, but, unfortunately the ability to split them and merely show the one I wanted to use proved beyond me. Sometimes this technology is way too much for an old hot metal man like what I am.