Scotland Team For Cardiff Named

TOONY has spoken. At around noon today, he named the Scotland side which will face Wales, in Saturday's Nat West Six Nations opener. The team and replacements, in 1-23 order is:

Gordon Reid, Stuart McInally, John Welsh; Ben Toolis, Jonny Gray; John Barclay (Captain), Hamish Watson, Cornell Du Preez; Ali Price, Finn Russell; Byron McGuigan, Chris Harris, Huw Jones, Tommy Seymour; Stuart Hogg. Replacements: Scott Lawson, Jamie Bhatti, Murray McCallum, Grant Gilchrist, Ryan Wilson; Greig Laidlaw, Peter Horne, Sean Maitland.

Newcastle's Chris Harris - a suprise choice and one of three Falcons in the 23

There are six changes from the team which beat Australia in the last Autumn International. The big surprise is perhaps the selection of Newcastle Falcons' Chris Harris in the centre, for the injured Alex Dunbar, while there is a potential first cap off the bench for young Edinburgh prop Murray McCallum, and, of course, former captain Greig Laidlaw returns to the match-day squad having recovered from his broken leg.

It looks a good team to me.

I AM not alone in admiring the chutzpah of the Murrayfield suits when it comes to the current upheaval around governance of the game.

I reckon, old cynic that I am, the plan is: by keeping the focus on Super Six, they might hope to slide Agenda 3 through, while nobody is paying attention. Sure, Super Six is where the big financial battle will be fought, but, I fear those clubs who seem to think, it's all about the top teams and we are not involved, are in for a rude awakening some way down the line.

I touched fleetingly in recent posts on the Participation Agreement, and the SRU's determination to enforce their no payments below Super Six plan. Now, I have said this before and I will say it again – Rugby Union Football is an OPEN sport. The old days of amateur and professional are no more, if a club wishes to pay a player, in whatever way, there is nothing the SRU can legally do to prevent this.

Sure, we would all like a level playing field, but, clubs and players will always find a way round any attempt to stop payments – that train left the station years ago. And, there is always the thought, which more than one club official has raised – if the only clubs which are allowed to pay players are the six franchises, in each of which the SRU has a stake, then that stinks.

The SRU is a Union of like-minded clubs, brought together by a love of and desire to play Rugby Union Football. Sure, you will always have different clubs, of differing standards in playing level and facilities, but, the governance of the game has to be such that the so-called “top” clubs got there on merit and by dint of hard work, not because they are favoured and financially supported by the Union.

I have absolutely nothing against the SRU running the full-time professional, elite end of the game. To me, it makes sense to have the very-best Scottish players in effect as employees of the SRU, and for the SRU to exercise its duty of care over these players.

The SRU's ignoring of the wider club game, in their race to make Glasgow and Edinburgh more-attractive to the paying spectator, has done serious damage to the heart of the game. Clubs are struggling to get guys on the park playing, and this has serious consequences for the future.

BUT, if the SRU wants to control more players, then let them increase the number of full-time PRO14 clubs, not come-up with a hare-brained scheme like Super Six, which will see six clubs taking all the risks, while the SRU reaps the benefit.

If they are going to set-up a small, elite group, and recruit fresh blood to this group by them being the only ones able to pay players, then, at the very least, they have to introduce a compensation system, so the grass roots clubs, who do the initial hard work in teaching the future stars to catch the ball, give and take a pass and the intricacies of scrums and lines-out.

IF they have to have two tiers of rugby, then, at least let the lower tier run its own affairs, rather like the Scottish Junior Football Association does.

AND another thing: last week, the SRU announced the third leg of the 1872 Cup would be played on Finals Day, at Murrayfield – Saturday, 28 April. The Edinburgh v Glasgow clash will be the final event of the day, following the Men's and Women's Scottish Cup finals.

Yes, this makes the now-traditional all-day festival of rugby an even-bigger event, but, I still have my wee nagging doubts about this move. It might well bring some of the new converts to rugby, who have started watching Glasgow and Edinburgh, when not having a previous club connection, along to see the best of the rest. It ought to increase the attendance, at least for the afternoon, early-evening games, but, there is still that wee nagging doubt in my mind.

For a start, I can see the lesser finals – the Bowl and Shield ones, which kick-off the programme, maybe having to be switched to the back pitches – where the lesser women's finals are already played – which would be a shame for these smaller clubs, having their big day out on the big stage.

Then, there is the single match missing from the 28 April programme – the final of the BT National League Cup. This is supposed to be the second-most-important cup final, behind the BT Scottish Cup, yet, it does not feature on the fixtures for that day – why?

Super Six Is Set To Be A Prop's Paradise - And The Rest Can Suffer

I AM reliably informed by the veteran journalist who is responsible for collating the rugby results in Scotland on a weekly basis, the most-common reason cited for non-playing of a fixture over a season is: “lack of front row cover.”

Back when Rugby Union was young and strictly amateur, the convention was, first three forwards up from the break-down formed the front row at the subsequent scrum. Indeed, it is only actually within my lifetime that the specialist prop became common-place. For instance, Bob Bruce of Gordonians, won four caps during season 1947-48, the first two at loose-head, the third at second row and his final cap in the back row.

The great Hugh McLeod - could play on either side of the front row

The great Hughie McLeod of Hawick, for instance, could play either side of the scrum, and even hooked in a couple of games during the 1959 Lions tour to Australasia. Today, we have specialist loose-heads and tight-heads. I suppose that is progress of a sort.

So, when I receive messages, such as this which I got this morning from the Director of Rugby of a National League side, my attention is pricked:

“Due to the attritional and specialised nature of the position, a pro / semi-pro squad is normally made up of Approx 25% front row players. This means that each 35 man Super Six Squad would need at least 9 front row players. That equates to 54 front rowers across the 6 squads.

“To put this number in perspective, only 50 front rowers are playing Premiership rugby on any give weekend across the 10 teams. Additionally, due to the attritional and specialised nature of the position, you can be sure that there will be points in the season where the Super Six squads may have to dip into the amateur leagues for emergency cover.

The knock on effect of losing 54 front row players to Super Six will have a devastating impact on club rugby where there is already a lack of front row players at present.”

Another friend of mine, a man who wore the thistle with distinction, had this to say:

“ So the next time the SRU bypass the "Super six" and bring in a project player watch the legal action kick in. Also if this nonsense ever kicks in, will they be paying the clubs transfer fees?”

My friendly neighbour Director of Rugby had this to say anent Project or Scotland-Qualified players being brought-in, perhaps to augment the Super Six squads:

“But even if a handful of SQ players are drafted in, the impact on club rugby will still be significant regarding front rowers because of the disproportionate number required in a squad. Basically every regular front rower in the premiership will be needed by the Super Six.”

The message therefore seems to be, if you are a front row player for a Premiership or National League club, it might well be worth while putting in some extra training hours, you are about to become a wanted man.

Or maybe not, I know of at least one versatile front rower in the current Premiership, who is believed to be on something like £40,000 a year in his day job. He would, I would presume, be high up the wanted list for any Super Six franchise, particularly if his current club opted out.

Is £12,000 per season sufficient compensation to commit to Super Six?

But, I do not, somehow, see a maximum of £12,000 per nine month season being enough of an attraction for him to perhaps lose seniority and promotion prospects in his current, highly-paid day job, on the off-chance of doing well enough in Super Six to win a full-time professional contract.

As things stand, Super Six is attractive, if you are a student – and this is maybe why there is such a push to get universities involved, but, if you are over-23 and starting up the jobs ladder, it is not as attractive a proposition.

Then there is the potential damage Super Six will do further down the chain. It makes no sense.

My old internationalist's point about transfer fees and compensation for developing players. Why should an amateur, community club, put the effort into giving kids the best-possible grounding in the game, work done by unpaid coaches on Sundays and in the evenings, only to see their best being picked-out along the Performance Pathway and, perhaps, at 15 or 16 taken away to the hot-house atmosphere of the Super Sixes.

And, what happens to those who fail to make the cut into the Academy, and find they are not wanted for the Super Six's 35-man squad. Are they simply expected to return to whence they came and get on with it?

MEANWHILE, Melrose Director of Rugby Mike Dalgetty has issued a statement, following last week's Melrose club meeting about Super Six, which drew an attendance of approximately 130 to the Greenyards. Mike said:

Mike Dalgetty - channeling his inner Ronan Keating

“I was pleased by the tone of the meeting which was held in a very positive manner. The post meeting feedback has been very positive from the members I have had the opportunity to speak to.

“In addition, we have had discussions with potential new partners who have expressed an interest in becoming involved with the club should it decide to proceed with applying for a franchise. The final decision on a formal application will be made prior to the end of March.”

Good effort Mike, 83 words to say nothing at all; Ronan Keating would be proud of you. You have a big future at Murrayfield, if you say yes to the franchise. But, I don't think the issue is in any way settled.

Sue, Grabbit And Run Will Start Sponsoring Scottish Rugby

MY esteemed – some say “steamin'” colleague, Socrates MacSporran – the Scottish Football Philosopher, here in the Sports Philosophy department within the School of Hard Knocks: a faculty of the University of Life, has had his critical faculties much-exercised by events surrounding a certain footballing institution based in the south-west quadrant of Glasgow. Professor MacSporran has been ruminating on matters Rangers for even longer than I have been wrestling with the complexities and absurdities of Super Six and Agenda 3.

Poor old Socrates is approaching the sixth anniversary of contemplating:

• whether or not Rangers are deid?
• is the holding company deid and the club alive?
• Or is the company and club deid and Sevco is an entirely new entity?

On one aspect of the whole bourach, Socrates has never deviated – his belief that, whatever eventually happens, if the dust ever settles, m'learned friends the lawyers will make a pretty penny from the whole mess. Indeed, he insists – there are children as yet to to get through their first day at one of Glasgow's private seats of education, whose complete school fees, until they leave for university, will in all likelihood be paid from daddy's fees in trying to sort things out down Edmiston Drive way.

All aboard the gravy train

I fear, now El Duce Dodson has decided Super Six and Agenda 3 will happen, some Scottish lawyers with an interest in rugby might be about to find their own gravy train departing, and, knowing how lawyers think – many will be keen to climb aboard.

Let's start at the top, with the assumption the Union finds six existing clubs who are prepared to put their misgivings aside and sign-up to one of the franchises.

Clubfan, who has been a regular btl commenter on this blog since I first brought-up this subject, had this to say:

“I still argue that the franchise will have to have a separate legal identity from the "amateur" club, what ever the "amateur" clubs current legal status.

“And as an aside, no club that is incorporated will be able to undertake the franchise as the club cannot sign a contract.

“The committee members could, but, that would be them individually taking on those commitments - a tricky legal situation if things go awry from either end.”

Very interesting.

Another regular btl commenter, pegj, had this to say:

“There's plenty of action still to come in this soap opera, with many twists and turns to keep the plot interesting. For instance, what if a Committee decides they'll go for a franchise but the Club Members not?

“I believe the majority of Clubs in Scotland are mutual organisations, run by a constitution that's determined by the Members who also vote on a Committee each year at an AGM to represent the Members interests - though a few Clubs have changed to charitable status.

“Any Committee thinking of running a franchise and withdrawing their Club 1st XV from their current league might see it as a jolly fine idea that helps give them greater kudos in the Scottish game, but, they will now no doubt have to put such a proposal to Club Members via a General Meeting.

“So a bit like the SRU President putting a motion before the Clubs; whilst they may be confident it will be passed, just as with Motion 1 at the last SRU AGM, there are no guarantees until the votes are counted.

“Of course, if it's a Club that's made the switch to a charity that's seeking a franchise, then they probably also need to clear it with OSCR (the Office of Scottish Charity Regulators) as well as their Members, as they move from an organisation providing a social good, to one entering into a commercial deal for profit.”

Now, given the uncertainties surrounding the deal being offered by the SRU, and the belief of some shrewd club officials, who have crunched the numbers, and don't like the bottom line they have arrived at, I believe these franchises just became even-harder sells for any committee-man or men keen on going ahead.

But, wiser men than I on the politics and machinations around Murrayfield are warning of an even-bigger stooshie to come, when attention turns to Agenda 3, and the great bulk of clubs operating below the stratosphere of the BT Premiership and possibly Super Six.

An official with a Regional League club contacted me yesterday, to pour cold water on my belief, the SRU cannot prevent clubs from paying players, because Rugby Union is an “Open” game, as such, if clubs wish to pay players, they can.

A set of leading questions

This club official wrote:

“I read your latest blog and have to disagree with your theory that clubs are free to do as they please with regard to payments (assuming they stay on the right side of HMRC).

“I expect that the 2018-19 participation agreement will be explicitly worded to say that clubs are prohibited from paying players.

“Just in case you haven't seen this already, here is the questionnaire that was sent our last year (to be sent back by 1st Jan!)

“This is the type of document that the SRU will use to keep clubs in line. The signatories could be faced by personal sanction (aka the Howe of Fife effect), the club will lose participation money (do note that the cash sums for winning leagues is being boosted in the new model) and clubs could lose points as well.

“As in all very severe sanctions.”

He also sent me a copy of that SRU questionnaire referred to in his message, and it makes very-interesting, not to say at times disturbing reading.

The whole thing, to me, smacks of institutionalised bullying, by an elite who seem to think they can do as they please and are not subject to scrutiny from the stakeholders who employ them to advance and expand Scottish Rugby.

Is nobody prepared to stand up to these bullies?

• 
  

Dirty Dozen - Magnificent Seven - The 300 - Scottish Rugby Needs Heroes - In The Corridors Of Power

AS WE gear-up for the trek to Cardiff, that is the members of the Tartan Army's Rugby Union Division, it is appropriate that today's text is taken from the gospel according to St Bonnie of Neath, because, dearly beloved, we in Scottish Rugby are holding out for a hero.

 Bonnie Tyler - singing for Scottish Rugby

In fact, we are holding out for about half a dozen, and we cannot really advertise:

“Wanted – half a dozen selfless heroes, prepared to put the greater good of Scottish Rugby ahead of personal interest, and those perhaps of your club. Must be prepared to confront and beat entrenched interests in the status quo.”

Because, it seems clear, the Murrayfield suits believe they can, at least as far as Super Six is concerned, do as they like. It seems equally clear, the Council reps, the guys put there to safeguard the interests of the clubs – the main stakeholders in the Union, have failed in their duty of care to these clubs, and need to be, either delivered of a pair of balls and a backbone – or replaced.

Sometime towards the end of May, the Scottish Rugby Press, well most of them, I fear one or two of us will be missed off the list, will be summoned to Murrayfield, where, flanked by flunkies and ushered on-stage by a fanfare, Mark Dodson will announce the six successful bidders for their Super Six franchises.

Dodson, in full Jean-Luc Picard mode, has said: “make it so”, and it seems, the Borg on the Board will back this scheme to the hilt. Then, apparently, the only thing which can stop this happening will be a full-blown rebellion by the clubs at the 2018 AGM.

Between the announcement and the AGM, arms will be twisted, perhaps threats will be made, because, Dodson and his principal lieutenants have put their full authority behind making it so, and they cannot lose.

The principal suits cannot – dare not lose, but, I fear Scottish Rugby will lose, big time.

For most of the first century of rugby in Scotland – and beyond, we had a system which worked. Players played for their clubs – if they were any good, they then got selected for their District – if they shone there, they got into the annual International trials – then, the full Scotland team.

Sure, in more recent years, we had age group and B then A teams, where good performances could enable players to by-pass the tried and tested: club – District – Scotland team route.

Then, rugby went open and things changed. Today, the system is – Midi-Rugby – Performance Pathway/go to the right school – age group – Academy – one of the two pro sides – Scotland team.

Midi-Rugby is club-based, thereafter, the best young talent does not wear a “traditional” club strip until, during their Academy days, or their first couple of years with one of the two pro sides, they are drafted to a club.

The traditional club game, the backbone of Scottish rugby since 1871, has been by-passed, because, too-many of the guys in positions of power within the paid ranks at Murrayfield do not have a Scottish club background. They simply have no notion of the history of such games – and they don't care.

Sadly, it appears that the SRU Council members, and the Board members elected by the clubs, have been neutered. They are on the gravy train and, they like the taste of the gravy they are getting. The clubs no longer have confidence in these guys fighting their corner. This has to change.

IF Super Six happens, great old clubs such as Edinburgh Accies, Hawick, Heriot's, Gala, Glasgow Academicals and West of Scotland can kiss goodbye to being considered “top clubs”. There will be a glass ceiling, or more-properly a glass floor, through which they cannot break.

Clubs looking to replicate the feat of Ayr, Currie, Stirling County and Marr and rise through the ranks to the top flight, will be told – forget it, you're not one of the Super Six, so you don't count.

With Super Six, Scottish Rugby becomes a two-tier game, never the twain will meet.

Of course, with some justification, critics are saying – Super Six will not work. Guys whom I respect, who know far more about finances than I, have said this. High Heid Yins in clubs interested in taking-up a franchise, even if just on the basis of: “We don't like it, we have serious doubts, but, we have to be in it”, are going ahead more in hope than expectation.

This is not an ideal climate for such a major change.

Some smaller clubs are saying: “I don't know much about this, but, it does not really affect us.” They are wrong, and, when or if Super six happens, they will get a rude awakening.

It seems likely, many current top club players – guys in the Club International XV, or playing regularly in the Premiership have said, on the basis of what they have learned thus far: “count me out”. These guys may have moved one or two rungs up the corporate ladder, of have commitments to their own companies which would preclude them from giving the necessary time to a semi-professional Super Six contract.

If they opt-out, players from further down will be offered Super Six contracts. If they ope-in, they will have to be replaced in the player pools of the displaced Premiership and National league clubs, which will impact on their own existing clubs further down the chain.

Stricty Amateur - Aye Right!

And, the SRU need not think, making club rugby below National League level “strictly amateur”. For a start, Rugby Union did not “go professional” in 1995 – it went open. If any club wishes to financially-re-emburse its players for training and playing, that's perfectly legal. In telling clubs below a certain level: “No, you cannot pay your guys”, they are flying in the face of World Rugby rules. They cannot do it.

 Here's one Scottish hero who might be able to help

So, when, like Scottish Rugby, you have a powerful elite, getting it so wrong – you need several heroes to step forward, stand-up to be counted and take the appropriate action.

The People Are Not Happy Mr Dodson - Prepare For Incoming

YESTERDAY'S blog, aided no doubt by my revelation, that El Duce Dobson has decided – Super Six IS going to happen – certainly got you commenting.

Pegj said:

“OK, I get that Mr Dodson can force through Super6 as Member Clubs voted through the Presidents motion at the SGM in October 2016 giving the Board full discretion as to how the performance side of the game is run and Super6 will fall into this performance arm, but how on earth do they plan to implement their other proposed Agenda 3 changes without some sort of debate and vote at a general meeting.

It's a few years ago, but did Glasgow Accies and GHK not have to be dropped down to the regional leagues to accommodate their newly formed Club, Glasgow Hawks, in the then Premier 2. If we take this as the precedent, explaining the rational for placing a team from each Club who get a Super 6 franchise into the new national league structure will be interesting.

He might be able to force through one aspect of his plan, but forcing through the other would surely be against all aspects of sound corporate governance.”

Clubfan, another regular btl contributor said:

Pegj please read the previous blog on bye-laws. The SRU are confident that this bestows all the power they need to make any changes without recourse to the AGM.

15.1. And 15.1.2 specifically.

Disgruntled Club Official chipped-in with:

Great talking point! Gloves off everyone who cares passionately about bout the game of rugby at all levels in Scotland. There is only one way stupid six could work without legal challenge. That is the six Turkeys remove their Club totally from the Scottish rugby leagues. They can play themselves at all levels until the money runs out which would probably only be 2 years max.

The Premier Council rep needs to accept his responsibility for the lack of direction for the Premiership.

On another 2 points the Council and Board have agreed this proposal without a mandate from their respective Clubs. No consultation other than a small group from the Premiership.

Any alterations new or otherwise to the league structure has always been by way of a motion from the SRU or Clubs and voted on by the members at an AGM. Precedents have been set, even Robert Howat would find that difficult to disprove. Two blatant examples of complete disregard for the current bye-laws.

Another example of the dictatorial regime at the top with the nodding donkeys in agreement! God help the Club game! Enough is enough time for the good people to stand up and be counted.

So, where are we? Dodson and the Performance Department feels the Premiership is not fit for purpose – whatever its purpose is. They want to “improve” the game below the full professional level, by introducing these Super Six clubs.

• The main Premiership clubs have looked at the draft proposals, and, by and large have not been impressed.
• Those who have, even privately, offered an opinion to the press, have said – the figures do not add-up.
• However, they remain interested, because they are caught between a rock and a hard place – damned if they do sign-up for a less than ideal deal – damned to irrelevance if they don't.
• Nobody outside Murrayfield wants this change.
• But, the Murrayfield suits are confident, because it relates, however partially to “professional” rugby, they can can use the powers given to them by the October 2016 EGM and introduce this change, because it is bringing new investment into rugby – supposedly.

But, as Disgruntled Club Official points out, Murrayfield has singularly failed to consult with the clubs – you know, the people who actually OWN the SRU. These clubs have been failed by their Board and Council reps, and, unless they get together quickly, they will find the stable doors closed and six franchised clubs gone.

This brings up an interesting point which was raised on my facebook page. And, since the SRU and similar bodies operate on precedents, it is relevant to Super Six.

We are told, the Super Six clubs will be hived-off from existing clubs, but, for marketing reasons, will probably have different names – so, if (for example) Melrose Meteors is the succession club to Melrose, Ayr Raiders replaces Ayr and Stirling Bravehearts takes the place of Stirling County – what happens to the three existing Premiership clubs.

Of course, the Premiership will continue, except, instead of being Level Three of the game in Scotland, it will be Level Four. BUT, when Glasgow Hawks was formed, Accies and GHK, who combined to form the new club, had to go right back to the beginning, to the bottom regional league, and fight their way back from there.

OK, so a core number of players from existing clubs will move up to the Super Six, leaving places to be filled on the roster of the continuing “Premiership” clubs which are hosting the Super Six. So, the 2^nd XV players have to move up, and be replaced, probably by players recruited from smaller local clubs, who will in turn have to replace these players. Now, given we have, this season, seen at least one National league side fold because of a lack of players, and more and more 2^nd XV games called-off, again because of a shortage of players, mainly front rowers – just where are the additional players going to come from?

One of the core objectives of the SRU is to try to increase interest in and participation in the game – I don't see how Super Six helps achieve this aim.

It is a mess, and, the more you look into it, the bigger the mess. But, because of club inaction, this train might already be going too quickly to stop.

We're awe doomed!!

The Biggest Suit Has Spoken - Super Six Is Going To Happen - Whether You Like It Or Not

I HAVE a serious message for club rugby in Scotland this morning. That message is – get yourselves organised – NOW, before it is too-late.

Mark Dodson - "Super Six will happen"

I deliver that message after hearing from one of my spies in the Borders, who, if he was not inside the club room at the Greenyards on Wednesday night, was listening through a crack in the ceiling. My information is, when he addressed the meeting of the Melrose club, which was specifically convened to discuss Super Six, Mark Dodson made it patently clear – Super Six is going to happen.

My further understanding is that the Melrose membership is fairly evenly split between those who want the old club to go for one of the six franchises, and those who do not. Clearly, at The Greenyards, and nae doot elsewhere in Scotland, the debate will continue for a time yet.

And, by the way, at this stage – kudos to the management team at Melrose, for doing what a lot more clubs are needing to do – consulting their members, getting discussion out in the open and persuading Mr Dodson to travel down there and defend his ideas in person.

I "borrowed" this picture of Wednesday night's meeting from the Melrose RFC twitter feed

The top man at one of the other top clubs, a body also swithering on whether or not to bid for a franchise – which if they did, they would surely get – said to me last week: “We have grave doubts about the deal and some of the figures are worrying, but, it's a case of deciding – can we afford to be in – or can we NOT afford to be in.”

However, assuming it will happen, what then?

Now, that is the sixty-four thousand dollar question – or, given the minimum amount of cash any club will be required to put into a franchise each season – the 89,046.25 dollar question. (£62,500 at current exchange rates).

I quote her from the “Who We Are” section of the SRU website: “Scottish Rugby is the governing body for rugby union in Scotland. Our role is to do whatever it takes in order to grow the game and help it flourish in a manner that fits our values. In 2012 we outlined our key aims and how we intend to Inspire Scotland through Rugby.” 

Let's look more closely at these, beginning with the core values:

Scottish Rugby's core values are respect, leadership, achievement, engagement and enjoyment.

Fairly average corporate bullshit there, every company or large organisation puts something like that upfront. It's meaningless.

Then we come to Key aims:

• winning teams
• a thriving club game
• increasing match attendance
• increasing commercial revenue
• improving the customer experience.

OK – We can give them the winning teams – these values and aims were written in 2012 and geared to taking the Union through to 2016, so that bit has happened.

Increasing match attendance – yup, that's a given too, at least as far a Scotland games at Murrayfield and Glasgow games at Scotstoun, Edinburgh is maybe lagging a wee bit there.

Increasing commercial revenue – again, a given.

Improving the customer experience. This one is a matter of opinion, since I am a member of the press and not as such a “customer”, I cannot comment.

Now we come to the last of these aims – a thriving club game. And here, I think we have to fail the SRU. We hear increasingly stories of games down the food chain, at Regional League or 2^nd XV level being called-off at short notice because of a shortage of players. Clubs are struggling to put out full teams and, while the BT Premiership is providing excellent, exciting rugby for the paying public, and this is happening too lower down – competition is intense in quite a few of the leagues for instance – I do not think we can say Scotland has “a thriving club game”.

And, quite honestly, I fail to see how taking six successful teams out of the Premiership to form the new franchises, or basing some of these franchises on university and lower league teams will lead to a thriving club game. Perhaps Mr Dodson can explain this to the wider Scottish Rugby public.

Since Rugby Union went Open in 1995, the SRU has struggled to cope and make sense of it. Finally, in the last two or three years, we are starting to see some progress. But, I would contend, in their haste to sort out the Performance Arm of the game, the SRU has ignored the club game – the heartland.

Super Six seems to me, and to more than a few other commentators, to be nothing more than an attempt to widen the remit of the Performance Arm, to give Murrayfield greater control of the upper levels of the game.

We are doing well at Level One – the International game – which the SRU runs.

We are doing well at Level Two – the Professional club game in the PRO14 – which the SRU runs.

George McMillan's shot of the crowded stand at Ayr on Saturday for the local derby v Marr proves, there is a big audience for the BT Premiership

Now, regardless of received wisdom that the Premiership is producing exciting, entertaining rugby and the fans are happy with it, the SRU seems determined to take over Level Three – the level below full-time professionalism.

The "suits" have deemed it, through measurements which they have not made available to the general rugby public, measurements made by anonymous persons unknown, “Not Fit For Purpose”. But, they have never told us what they see as the Premiership's purpose.

Until they do this, until they make a case for Super Six beyond: “We want it and we will have it, come what may”, it is the duty of everyone who cares about Scottish Rugby and its heartland – the club game, to oppose this SRU power grab.

Apparently, the Board members will not oppose. The Council members have shown themselves to be spineless – it is now up to the club members to halt this juggernaut, before it is too late.

Are they up for the fight?