Forget Scotland Jerseys - Produce Some 2020-21 Leavers Hoodies

WILL THE last Scottish player to leave the dressing room please put out the lights. That's my response to the wave of departures from the central pay roll:

• Jamie Bhatti – gone

• Adam Hastings – going

• Huw Jones – apparently going

• Duhan van der Merwe – apparently going

• So, the question is – who's next? 

  
  

  
  
  

  Jamie Bhatti - off to Bath

  picture by Craig Watson
  

I have a certain sympathy for Jamie Bhatti, who really needs far-m,ore game time than he is ever going to get at Edinburgh. Jamie is one of a number of young Scottish props being held back by being in the pay of the SRU, and badly in need of time at the coal face – but, that's the reality of only having two full-time professional teams.

The further reality is, regardless of Scottish Government largesse, the SRU is going to have to cut staff numbers, and that is bound to include players. But, when they really do get around to the hard choices of who goes and who stays – hopefully somebody like my old pal Dom will give me a bell. Like Ko Ko in The Mikado: “I've got a little list, and there's none of them be missed.”

With Adam Hastings departing for Gloucester, the word on the streets is that Duncan Weir might be coming home to Glasgow Warriors. This would be welcomed by the Warrior Nation, after all, he is one of their own and now arguably a better player than when he was allowed to flit along the M8 to Murrayfield.

The SRU's performance department honchos really need to devise a plan whereby their player rotation works better than it ever has. AS A PRIORITY - Explain to the body of the kirk what is meant to happen, then move heaven and earth to Captain Picard it and – make it so.

I had a wee look at the records when I saw news of Dunky's apparent return, it made interesting reading. Dunky was the Scotland Under-20 stand-off in 2010, since when the job has gone to:

• Harry Leonard – 2011

• Finn Russell Tommy Allen – 2012

• Alex Hagart – 2013

• Ben Chalmers – 2014

• Blair Kinghorn – 2015

• Adam Hastings – 2016

• Josh Henderson – 2017

• Ross Thompson – 2018

• Nathan Chamberlain – 2019.

Of those ten tens, three, Russell, Allen (for Italy) and Hastings have gone on to become international tens. Kinghorn has gone on to be an international full-back or winger, while both Leonard and Chamberlain have worn the ten shirt for Edinburgh (well in Chamberlain's case, usually the 22 or 23 shirt.

So, that's a 60% success rate in tyros training-on to become professionals – good by Scottish standards.

However, Weir will be 30 in May, so, probably a one contract signing. I would hope, as well as bringing-in Duncan, the Warriors management takes genuine steps to further integrate either Henderson or Thompson into their playing staff. Or are they eyeing-up some youngster in the South African schools system as a long-term project?

PART THREE of the protracted SRU AGM 2020 is due tonight; this promises to be the hardest oportion for The Junta to navigate their way through.

The ever-excellent TOL published a nice little primer on Monday, and it is to be hoped that some of the usual suspects get tore into the high heid yins – who will not be so-able this year to summon-up the usual pack of useful idiots from the Establishment Clubs, to derail and divert any criticism of the politburo.

The dogs on the street know the SRU are in trouble and facing a very-uncertain few years as we hopefully recover from Covid and try to move forward. I suppose it will be asking a bit much for TCD to suddenly become humble and admit, he may not have all the answers, while, if the body of the kirk is allowed to get their teeth into some aspects of the accounts and annual report, there coukld be some awkward moments for the high heid yins.

I am confident Scottish Rugby will come through the current crisis, but, better that the guys at the top table admit they have problems, soft-pedal on the bullshit and accept – things have to change, than that we get the usual stone-walling and bluster.

Give us some fresh ideas, and more-importantly, give us some hope for the future. At the moment Scottish Rugby is not in a good place, and, forrit tho' Ah canna see, Ah guess and fear.