International Rugby - The Money Pit

IT IS a fact of rugby life, that the only area of the game which makes money is the international level. However, since that elite tier of the game has to be under-pinned by the greater numbers involved in the club game – some form of compromise is required in the financing of the overall game. Where the game is the big thing, all is probably well – players will always wish to simply play; the problems start when the money element comes in.

I chanced upon an example of this just this week, when I read a piece on the travel problems which the South African teams in the BKT United Rugby Championship are having. Obviously, flying a full match-day squad of South African players, plus the coaches and back-up staff up from their homeland to Europe is always going to be an expensive business. So, to help out, the South African Rugby Union signed a sponsorship deal with Qatar, which means, the four South African teams, when coming north – have to fly via Qatar.

This, however, means, they are subjected to a 40-hour flight time, with changes of aircraft in Doha and again once they arrive in Europe. To make things worse, they – even the big guys like Eben Etzebeth and The Bomb Squad” are being asked to fly “cattle class” in “Economy.”

The European-based teams don't have the same problems. For instance, the piece I read mentioned how, when Glasgow Warriors fly to Johannesburg next month, to complete their rescheduled match with The Lions, they will fly Business Class – Glasgow to Heathrow, then (still business class) Heathrow to Jo'burg; repeating this route on the way back. Twelve hours one-way, easy.

I wonder, which URC team will be the first to take a leaf from the North American professional sports world and get their own exclusive jet for the long-haul trips.

THE 2023 FOSROC Super6 Sprint Series isn't due to kick-off for another three months, but, this week we have seen some movement with new coaching appointments announced.

These have seen Alan Tait named as Head Coach at Southern Knights, assisted by Scott Wright, who moves back to the Greenyards from Selkirk. Then, Steve Scott was named as replacement for Fergus Pringle at S6 Champions Watsonians.

With Ben Cairns having moved from Stirling to Heriot's in November, the one big job still vacant is to name Ben's replacement at Bridgehaugh. I would expect that appointment to be announced later this month.

SELDOM has my flabber been less ghasted – Venus do Milo – or Owen Farrell as he styles himself, has been handed a four-week ban, reduced to three if he attends something called “Tackle School.” This means he will be available for England's 6 Nations campaign.

He's a serial offender when it comes to head-high, no-arms tackles. The last time he was up before the beaks, be copped a six week ban. So, this time round he gets four/three.

Mind you, are we Scots surprised. Think back to the good old amateur days, when the current Chairman of the SRU – back then a big daft boay frae Kelsy, along with a senior England player, decided to take the venerable Calcutta Cup and show it around the pubs of Rose Street, following the annual encounter between sports oldest international rivals.

When the trophy was returned to the Balmoral Hotel, The Calcutta Cup had become “The Calcutta Plate.” John Jeffrey (Scotland) copped a six-month ban for his indiscretion, the then PC Dean Richards (England) got off with a slight smack on the wrist. The RFU can be relied on to protect their favourites. What's that old saying again - “Britannia waives the rules.”

IT WAS so sad to read this week, hard on the heels of the loss of Ken Scotland, of the passing of David Duckham. Duckham, who passed away, aged 76, was one Englishman who was admired and even loved across the Celtic fringes of the sport, and on into the wider world.

He first broke through as one half of an outstanding England centre partnership with Yorkshireman John Spencer. However, it was when he switched onto the wing that he really came into his own.

Although he ultimately lost his place in the Test side to the more-direct Welshman John Bevan, Duckham was one of the stars of that glorious Lions' backline of 1971, alongside Gerald Davies, John Dawes and Michael Gibson..

Gareth Edwards' 'Try of the Century' might have been the highlight of The Barbarians' victory over the 1972/3 All Blacks, but, for many, Duckham was the star of that wonderful match, in which he scored a brilliant solo try.

I remember too, with affection, the great Gordon Brown tackle, which stopped Duckham in his tracks, during the 1971 Centenary International at Murrayfield. Big Broon injured himself stopping a certain try, and that injury allowed another great Ayrshireman – the original Gordon Strachan – to win his first cap.

THE REPAIR SHOP on BBC is one of my secret pleasures. The craftsmanship and passion which the team puts into their work is exceptional.

This was true in Wednesday's edition, when the team did a fantastic job in restoring one of the great trophies of Welsh Rugby – The Welsh Schools Rugby Union's Dewar Shield.

 

This almost 120-year-old mega-sized shield, pictured above before restoration, was in a really bad way, however,the team got it back to pristine condition, ready to be played for for another 100 years or more.