The Bear Shites All Over The SRU's Preoccupation With The Money Side Of The Game

THAT big bar-steward Barnes, or David Barnes of The Offside Line, as he is known to his bank manager, has done it again – sent the rest of us in the Scottish rugby media homeward to think again, after another cracking piece.

If you care about the future of Scottish Rugby, you MUST read Barney's interview with Ian Milne, in which “The Bear” expands on his long-standing fight to get: “more bad players” playing rugby.

The Bear - well worth reading. pic by Fotosport/David Gibson

Ian has long been beating this drum, the trouble, for Ian, and for the long-term good of the game up here is, nobody – certainly in the corridors of power, appears to be listening. I am more and more convinced, the thinking inside the BT Murrayfield bubble is: “if we cannot make money from it, we are simply not interested.”

They will throw cash at the international team and at the two full-time professional sides. The six franchise winners, who are apparently due to sign their franchise agreements with the SRU today, will be well-funded, but, the ordinary clubs – ah! That's a different ball game.

Sure, Sheila Begbie has been handed a nice wee empire, with a new name, all that new branding to pay for, but, the new title – Development department rather than Domestic Rugby department, worries me somewhat. I see it as a case of: if you want to develop potential professional players for us, we're interested, if you merely wish to play rugby – naw, forget it. I hope I am wrong, but, that's the impression I am getting.

We keep hearing this mantra of: “fewer but stronger” as the way ahead for the club game – BT Murrayfield has never, ever, tried to rubbish this notion. I'll tell you how I see that developing.

A nice wee pyramid – The Scotland team at the top, under-pinned by the Sevens and Under-20 squads. Below them, the two professional teams; below them the six semi-professional franchise teams, under-pinned by at most two National Leagues of maybe ten teams per division.

You will need to pay to get into the games involving these clubs and, in time, we will see minimum standards being applied, not merely the mooted 3G pitches, but, I can also see a requirement as regards spectator facilities.

Now, I have nothing against this, in fact, I welcome it. If you are going to charge people to watch your game, then, you need to do two things:

• make it a good enough game that people will want to come and see it
  
  
• make your facilities good enough that the spectators have an enjoyable experience.

All very laudable; but, by making your national level clubs adopt minimum standards, these clubs become elitist themselves. At the moment, any kid who wants to play rugby, can go along to his local club and play. In time, the wheat is separated from the chaff. The gifted players move up, the less gifted find their level in their club's lower XVs, of stop playing and hopefully remain interested as spectators.

If “fewer but stronger” comes to pass – there will still be a place for the gifted and for the quitters, but, what will be left for Ian Milne's bad players, who don't necessarily want to become good-enough to be gifted, but still want to play rugby?

The national league clubs, needing to fund their academy and to develop their elite players, will have less cash to put towards “social” players. They may want to enhance the spectator experience to the extent that the traditional apres-rugby high-jinks of the “Coarse Rugby” players is frowned upon.

You don't want a couple of well-oiled Extra B XVs being Zulu Warriors in your club rooms at 7pm on a Saturday, when you are hoping to attract older members and their wives to come along and perhaps have a meal and a bottle of wine. The coarse rugby guys will be marginalised.

We may, as I think Ian Milne would maybe welcome, see the resurgence in single XV clubs, playing at a lowish level – that would be terrific. There is still, I believe, a place for such teams. They certainly continue to flourish in the Amateur, Welfare and Sunday Leagues in football. Why not also in rugby? Although, most football clubs of this ilk operate out of friendly local pubs – prepared to trade-off occasional incidences of anti-social, drink-fuelled, bad behaviour for increased bar takings.

We might also see the appearance of youth rugby teams, similar to the traditional footballing Boys Clubs. Clubs geared-up to providing rugby for youngsters in the various age groups, with the best of their talent picked-up by the big clubs.

To summarise then. If indeed, we are to see: “fewer but stronger” gain traction, we could witness the above scenario. However, whether this does or not, we are going to see major changes to Scottish rugby over the next few years.

I have of late, more and more, been coming to the conclusion. Since the SRU appears to be only interested in the money side of the game, then the lower teams must organise, come together and put in place structures which will allow them to flourish.

The case for a Scottish Junior Rugby Union looking after the grass-roots clubs, is becoming more and more evident. However, any SJRU would need to be run by the clubs, by largely volunteer, elected officials.

As I have said before, the Scottish Junior Football Association has two full-time employees – General Secretary Tom Johnston, and his secretary. Treasurer Iain McQueen, elder brother of the great Gordon McQueen, goes into Hampden two or three times a week to help out, but, the bulk of the work is done by the regional secretaries and committees, all of whom are volunteers.

They organise the league and cup fixtures, assign the referees and so forth. Of course, as John Thorburn tells me on a weekly basis – the Border League has been doing this for over 100 years.

A SJRU could work, it would bring the currently disillusioned grass-roots clubs back into the decision-making tent, it would bring the organisation of the game closer to the clubs, and, I am sure, with the game's regions better managed by the guys closer to the grass-roots, we would see Ian Milne's dream of more bad players playing rugby.

By the way – do please read Ian Milne's piece on The Offside Line, it's a belter.

The Lesser-Spotted Johnson might soon be spotted heading home

THESE are terrible days in which to be Scottish, and in particular a Scottish rugby fan. Yesterday, we had a state visit from the Servalan for the 21^st century – the Supreme Commander of our Imperial Overlords – who, looking just a wee bit like Snow White, with Dopey as significant other, just nipped into Bridge of Weir Leather to remind us: “We own you Sweaties, and you will do what we tell you.”

Snow White and Dopey, at Bridge of Weir Lether

We have English and French clubs browsing the catalogue of soon to be out-of-contract Scottish players, deciding which ones to pick-off from the financially-compromised SRU at the end of the season, but, there is hope on the horizon.

Going home? The Lesser-Spotted Johnson

Apparently, Rugby Australia is keen to repatriate the Lesser-Spotted Johnson and offer him a job back in Sydney. Now, if I can be serious for a minute: I understand, Scott Johnson has serious family issues which would be better addressed back in Oz. That is his business, and I sympathise with him over this.

Maybe he has Scottish ancestors who drummed into him one of my Sainted Mother's gems of Caledonian good sense when it comes to moving jobs: “Ye dinnae let go wi' yin haun, till ye hae a better grip wi' the ither.”

However, ask anyone in the body public of Scottish Rugby – would you happily allow the Lesser-Spotted one to depart for Australia, and I would bet they would most-probably say yes.

Imagine if the L-SJ was to depart for home, swiftly followed by white smoke from the Twickenham lum and the announcement that TCD would be their new CEO – we would immediately have Slade on at level 11, as all our Christmases and Hogmanays came along at once.

But, ach!, we're Scottish, we could never be that lucky.

ONE OF my mates from Marr RFC made a salient point earlier this week. He had noticed that Marr College had won its second successive Barbarian Conference, the level at which they play in the SRU's Mitsubishi-sponsored school and youth competition.

He was, however, slightly miffed, inasmuch as Marr cannot win promotion from this conference into one of the higher-rated ones. Much as I hate to upset a Marr man – the last time I did that, Gordon Brown did serious (legal) damage to my right eyebrow – I have to disagree with him.

Gordonand Peter Brown and Bill Cuthbertson are not the only winning Barbarians from Marr College

The schools and youth conferences were specifically designed to offer competition among teams of a roughly similar standard, so I don't see promotion and relegation working. In any case, at age group level, the standard of talent is cyclical. You might find a school or club promoted on the back of a squad, mainly at the upper end of the age range, who all promptly become over-age, to be replaced by a far-younger squad, who are overwhelmed at the higher level.

But, if the Mitsubishi conferences are to work properly, perhaps their should be cross-conference games after the initial conferences are decided, leading us to a position whereby we know which is the best age group squad in Scotland.

As things stand, the big private schools – Watsons, Strathallan, Merchiston etc, barely ever take on the best club teams – Stirling County, Ayr and Boroughmuir for instance. Why not? Such games would give the age group selectors, and the guys weeding-out talent for the Academy and the Under-20 team a better idea of the depth and breadth of talent.

Lower down, we could see crossovers between the various other conferences, I am sure this would add interest to age group rugby in Scotland.

STILL on the subject of schools and youth rugby, ever since that wonderful side featuring the Ella brothers toured the UK about 40 years ago, the Australian Schools side has been the benchmark against which we judge our own young players.

However, I see the cult of “fewer but stronger” seems to be abroad in Oz as well as in Scotland now. I have just read, Rugby Australia is thinking of setting-up two Academies, one in Queensland, the other in New South Wales, to nurture the next generation of elite Australian young players. Each Academy will have an intake of 40 players.

Now, perhaps as much as here, schools rugby in Australia is seen as an elite sport, played mainly in the private schools, and the fear is, this new initiative will make a sport, already perceived as “elite” even more elite.

Actually, when you think, Rugby Australia claims to have a total of 230,753 registered players – so to put just 80 youngsters into an Academy is placing the bar rather high.

The SRU, with a claimed 49.265 registered players, has a total of 52 Forsoc Scottish Rugby Academy male players, so, when compared to the proposed Australian system, we are doing well when it comes to player development.

I CHANCED this morning upon a piece in the Dundee Courier's website, in which the writer: Steve Scott, was wondering aloud why the Scotland rugby team is out-selling the Scottish football team at this time.

One or two wee wrong assumptions, I felt, were aired, while Mr Scott clearly either has fewer dealings, or better experience of the workings of the SRU media department than I have had (Still waiting for a response on my enquiry of Tuesday, regarding the next round draw for the Scottish Cup and National League Cup, by the way).

Maybe the reason for the better public perception of the Scottish national rugby team as against the Scottish national football team is because, the Scottish rugby media supports the national side, and the National Coach, to a greater degree than the Scottish football media does.

We – everyone from the “name” rugby writers – David Barnes, Mark Palmer, Iain Morrison, Duncan Smith, Alasdair Reid etc, down to that daft auld blogger in East Ayrshire – we support Scotland. To a man we think the national team is THE team in Scotland.

Across in the football media, the Lap Top Loyal, the Celtic minded in particular, put their own particular clubs above Scotland, and, a large percentage, perhaps even a majority, of the members of the Scottish Football Writers Association, don't like Alex McLeish.

Edinburgh's team to face Munster at Irish Independent Park in the Guinness PRO14 tomorrow night was announced at lunch time today. The big talking point is, perhaps, the debut for centre George Taylor, just reward for some very-impressive performances in the Tennent's Premiership with Melrose.

George Taylor - another player from the "not fit for purpose" Tennent's Premiership, who will make his full professional debut for Edinburgh in Munster tomorrow night

The match-day squad, as ever in 1-23 formation, is:

Rory Sutherland, David Cherry, Murray McCallum, Jamie Hodgson, Callum Hunter-Hill, Ally Miller, Lewis Wynne, Luke Hamilton (Captain); Nathan Fowles, Jaco van der Walt; Duhan van der Merwe, Juan Pablo Socino, George Taylor, Tom Brown; Dougie Fife. Replacements: Ross Ford, Darryl Marfo, Pietro Ceccarelli, Callum Atkinson, Senitiki Nayalo, Sean Kennedy, Jason Baggott, Chris Dean.

Unavailable due to injury: Cameron Fenton; Fraser McKenzie; Lewis Carmichael; John Barclay; Magnus Bradbury; Luke Crosbie; Matt Scott; Mark Bennett; Damien Hoyland.

The match will kick-off at 7.35pm – it is live on Premier Sports; and, in addition to Taylor's starting debut, may see Senitiki Nayalo and Jason Baggott make their Edinburgh debut off the bench.

A Great Effort Girls - Well Done

I WAS gently chided, on Facebook, last night, for my previous comments about the standard of women's rugby in Scotland. My critic was a justly proud father – who, rightly said there was not much long with “the product” produced by the Scotland XV in which he had a paternal interest, in just falling short against the higher-ranked Canadians.

In terms of edge of the seat thrills, I could not disagree, the game was good in that respect, the outcome was in doubt right until the final whistle, and yes, the Scotland team definitely rose to the occasion against the Canucks and might well have won, with a little bit of luck.

However, to someone whose regular diet of rugby is provided by the Tennent's Premiership, with occasional sorties to the additional riches of the Guinness PRO14, sorry, so-much of the play was crap – which I feel justifies my original criticism of the BBC Alba exposure deal – welcome though that is to the women's game.

So-much of the Scots girls' handling was poor, the kicking, particularly off the tee, was also poor, while our scrum seemed to be permanently in reverse. Yes, there were some great solo moments, the commitment was absolute, but, with a bit more composure and a higher overall skills level, they might have pulled it off.

Kudos to Shade Munro, the coaching team and the girls themselves, but, we have still got a good bit to travel before, I believe, the standard of the women's game in Scotland will be high enough to justify regular TV exposure.

One suggestion I would make is this – let the girls play with a size 4, rather than the regular size 5 match ball. I think that might make a difference.

WORLD RUGBY has just splashed the cash in no uncertain terms, with their annual awards ceremony, in Monte Carlo – a nice wee gig if you can get it. As ever, Scotland sailed beneath the radar for the big awards, but, we can be justly proud of the two we did pick up: Doddie Weir's magnificent work in raising awareness of his terrible fight against MND and the Clan's Jamie Armstrong being rewarded with the Spirit of Rugby Award.

Since the Clan began in Ayrshire, at Kilmarnock RFC, I particularly enjoyed seeing the indefatigable Jamie recognised.

IF YESTERDAY'S Guardian is correct, then Steven Browne, the departing CEO of the (English) Rugby Football Union is on a salary of £400,000 per year. Is that not either very close to, or slightly less than the salary our esteemed CEO, TCD picks up, for running the far smaller Scottish Rugby Union.

At least, under TCD's watch, the SRU is holding its own financially, while the English have just announced a £30.9 million loss, and is about to shed 54 employees. But, there's more – plans are apparently afoot to trim the £25,000 per match match fee paid to England's international players.

I feel, something is about to give darn Sarf, and, if TCD does pull it off and in one massive bound leap from the BT Murrayfield frying pan, into the Twickenham fire – well Hell mend him, because he, or whoever succeeds Browne, faces some horrendous problems going forward.

Just how they will cope with Brexit, and the effect that pending catastrophe will have on English business life, is scary. Will the pockets of all those sugar daddies keeping the over-inflated English Gallacher Premiership clubs afloat be deep enough to survive the fall-out of the deadly B? Or, will we see some of the biggest names in English rugby go tits-up as financial reality bites?

Mind you, this £200 million sale of a minority share in Premiership Rugby Ltd just might keep the wolf from the door for a wee while longer – if the club bosses don't do what they usually do, and ape English football by squandering the lot.

A QUICK swatch at the SRU website last night reveals they are seeking a new HR Director, and have recruited a firm of “head-hunters” to handle the search. Meanwhile, another head-hunting company is handling the search for Jonny Petrie's replacement as CEO of Edinburgh. Nice to know our rulers have so-much of our cash to splash around, these head-hunters charge like the HLI on hooch.

Still, good luck to whoever gets both jobs – they could always try working for the Corleones, or the Sopranos: much safer than working with TCD and the Consigliore, given their track record in taking the advice of their HR professionals!!

YESTERDAY, I spotted a post on Facebook, regarding the use of legal and prescription pain-killers in rugby. I must admit, I read it and passed on to other things, only to go back later, where a quick browse on Google revealed, this is apparently nothing new – there were links to stories going back a decade.

However, apparently, the use of pain-killers, particularly in the professional game, is apparently an on-going, some say increasing problem. Just one of several seemingly small, but growing threats to the game we love.

The latest available figures show that the average career span of an NFL American Footballer is 3.3 seasons. The most up-to-date figures I could find for a professional rugby player is 7 seasons. This was a 2013 figure, so that may have changed by now. The average career length of a British footballer is slightly longer, at 8 years.

If the hits keep getting bigger, and the use of pain-killers, simply to keep playing increases, I can see rugby's average career span coming down. Something there for the guys setting-up our first Players Union to ponder on.

A Mad Hatter's Tea Party Or Through The Looking Glass - The Wonderland Of Scottish Rugby

“CURIOUSER and Curiouser,” that was the comment attached to a missive I received this week from a club official. What he sent me was the latest despatch from HQ. I get the impression the minions, if not TCD, were not exactly happy with the response they got to their last survey, which aimed to discover what the troops were thinking around the governance of the game, and the ongoing investigation by Gavin MacColl QC and his committee.

 Gavin MacColl - seeking more feedback

Hence this new Papal decree, via which the clubs are invited to outline what they think the league “pyramid” should look like.

This supplemental survey – National and Regional Leagues Structures, asks just three questions:

1. Does your club wish to play National or Regional League Rugby?
   
   
2. How many teams does your club consider should compete in each National League: option A – 8; option B – 10; option C – 12; option D – another number and please state your club's suggested number?
   
   
3. How many National Leagues (including a Premiership of Championship) should there be? (This does not include the separate Super competition): option A – one; option B – two; option C – three; option D – four; option E – other and please state your club's suggested number?

The completed forms, to be signed by the club's President, Secretary and Treasurer are to be returned to Graham Ireland, at BT Murrayfield, by 7 December.

One wonders if this latest survey is a pointer to a total lack of anything approaching a consensus from the previous survey, which was sent out, earlier this season and responded to by the end of October.

Significantly, this latest questionnaire does not mention the thorny subject of placement of the Super-6 clubs' “core” clubs. Has that been settled, or kicked into the long grass meantime?

It does not mention, either, the thorny issue of player payments, but, considering, between the Super-6 and payment surveys, 68% of the clubs responded, perhaps Mr MacColl and his committee have the information they need, and this is indeed, simply a means of seeking greater clarity on other relevant matters.

Any way – when the dust finally settles, the clubs cannot say: “We wisnae telt or asked.”

A WEE BIRD tells me Super-6 will take a significant step forwards towards implementation this week, when the six clubs will sign their franchise agreements. Then, next week, the six coaches are due to be named, after which, we will have a clearer idea of the shape of Scottish rugby next season.

However, a wee stone was chucked into the fermenting pool of speculation this week, with the news that Al Kellock and Chris Paterson have been charged with heading-up “task forces” to look at putting together potential “Super-8” franchises in Glasgow and the Borders.

You, know, I would never try to downplay the tribalism/clannishness which is such a part of Scottish team sports, BUT, if this can be overcome, these might be runners. Then, if the perhaps more-acute cases of clannishness in Aberdeen and Dundee can also be overcome, we could well, perhaps five to ten years down the line, see a Super-10 going.

Al Kellock - tasked with formulating a Glasgow Super-8 team: Simples

Mind you, while Al Kellock's task in pulling together a potential Glasgow franchise will be difficult, it is a skoosh case, when compared to how Chris Paterson, with his well-known Gala connections, can possibly resolve the ancient inter-town rivalries in the Borders and put together a South franchise.

 Chris Paterson - tasked with the same job in the South: not so simples

It looks to me, as if the notorious “fewer but stronger” quote which has been so-often used to decry Agenda-3 might have been misconstrued, and refers to National League rugby, rather than the regional game.

I have long felt, we have too-many “National” League teams. This act was underlined on Saturday, when four Scottish Cup and National League Cup games were called off. One-quarter of the scheduled ties went unplayed, if National League status clubs cannot play matches in the last 16 of national knock-out competitions, then questions must be asked about their entitlement to such status.

Yes, occasionally we might find teams with a major injury crisis, unable to fulfil a fixture, but, surely, if they are to have credibility, such clubs should attempt to re-schedule, rather than concede.

According to the rumour mill, at least one of the clubs which scratched at the weekend, did so purely because, they knew, if they played, they would be hammered.

WHAT then, might be the future shape of club rugby? I still maintain, Super-6/8/10 has to be recognised as part of Scottish Rugby's “Performance” department. There is no relegation from this, it is an artificial concept, invented for the best of reasons, and entry is not simply on merit.

However, there ought to be very strict regulations, in terms of spectator facilities and so-forth. If this level of rugby is to be a showcase for talent and a bulwark to the two full-time professional teams, than it must look the part.

I would underpin this with a National League structure which included the “core” clubs of the Super ones, plus a matching number of other individual clubs. All rugby below that should be played and organised on a regional basis, with the clubs themselves playing a part in the organisation and administration – as happens with the long-established Border League.

In regional rugby, we could relax some of the rules. Do we really need to have five-man subs benches? Do we really need to have such firm rules on front row cover – why not simply go to unopposed scrums?

We could perhaps then see more one-team clubs playing – a bunch of mates who simply want a run-around on a Saturday afternoon to work-up a thirst. Why, we might even, in time, see specialist youth clubs, as we have in football, bringing kids into the game, before, passing those who might make it into development teams, while the others could simply play for fun.

Aye, rugby in Scotland is about to change – big time I think.

Scotland Wins, But, As Ever, Not All Scots Are Happy

AUTUMN internationals over, we can now get back to normality, with club games and weekends off between now and the Six Nations. But, what have we learned from the recent internationals?

We have seen the usual Scottish reaction:

• “Aye, we won the games we should have, but....”
  
  
• “We were not very entertaining in beating Argentina”
  
  
• “We don't have a Plan B, when Plan A isn't working”

Maybe it's a Scottish thing – I've heard the same after various Scotland football internationals. The wind always seems to be blowing right into the face of a large section of the Scottish population -we are somehow never happier than when we are being miserable and having something to complain about.

Of course, it's great to win, we would far-rather be rerunning great tries and good wins than defeats, however, if, like me you've lived through so many bad years, you need to enjoy the good times, and right now, times are good. But, hey, there is nobody alive today who can remember the days when Scotland entered every game as favourites – that maybe happened in the 1920s, but, never in my life time.

Also, over the next 12 months, Scotland is due to play a minimum of 13 and a maximum of 16 full internationals. If we take the minimum number, 9 of the 13 will be competitive games, the five 6Nations matches in the spring, and the four World Cup group games in Japan in the autumn.

Our last four games, plus the four World Cup warm-up games in late summer next year are therefore, the only matches during which Gregor Townsend and his coaching team will have a chance to try things in a full match situation.

It's all very well trying new combinations and new tactical ploys in training, but, it's only in a match situation, against opponents who don't know the script, that we learn how good that script is, and whether or not it will work.

These last four games were the first pre-opening try-outs, designed to have us ready to hit the ground running for the 6Nations – that's our first run. We then get a chance to think again, refine and re-assess, during the late summer games, to have us absolutely on-song for the big “Broadway” opening in 301 Days time – at 8.45am UK time, on Sunday, 22 September, 2019, when we face the Irish in Yokohama.

We know, from past experience, the team we would pick today, if asked to name our Scotland team to take the field in that match, will not be the one which does eventually play. There will be injuries, guys, currently seen as a shoo-in to play, will lose form. Someone, currently a peripheral figure, or perhaps not yet even a member of the full international squad, will emerge from left field.

Toony and his team will have to be on their toes, to be constantly assessing and changing decisions, between now and then. Just suppose we can go all the way – and I have always said there would be no better occasion on which to finally break our All Blacks duck, than in a World Cup Final – and we win the thing. Well, as Gregor goes to the Palace for his knighthood, nobody will be saying: “Aye, but, that win over the Argies was a bit of a bummer.”

Scotland doesn't do “winning ugly” very often. We did it on Saturday, so, we know we can. If we have to win ugly in some crucial game between now and the end of the World Cup, maybe what we learned yesterday will stand us in good stead.

SATURDAY, having been an international day, saw a reduced fixture list in Scotland. I had a look through the fixtures on the official SRU website, and by my reckoning 53 first XV cup and league matches were scheduled to be played. In the end, 19 of these were not played; 5 of these games were off due to pitch issues, while 1 – the game between Isle of Mull and Lochaber in West Regional League 3 was played as a development match. This leaves 13 matches, one in four of those on the schedule, unplayed due to a shortage of players by one of the sides.

I accept, this was an international Saturday, however, even allowing for this, that many call-offs is not the sign of a game in good health. Even more worrying, one game was in the Scottish Cup – the most-important club knock-out competition, with a further three call-offs in the second most-important knock-out competition, the National League Cup.

This means 36% over one-third, of the scheduled matches in these important competitions, were unplayed. I am sure everyone has sympathy for the likes of Dundee HSFP, who found themselves with an intolerable injury list, particularly hard-hit by the absence of experienced props, and quite rightly called-off their trip to Ayr.

But, these cup ties involved NATIONAL LEAGUE clubs – the top 29% of the clubs playing organised league rugby in Scotland. If the top teams don't have the numbers to offset an injury crisis – what chance for the clubs further down the food chain?

It is all very well having three successive sell-outs for Murrayfield internationals, to see Glasgow topping Conference A of the Guinness PRO14 and to be such a draw that spare tickets for Scotstoun are like hen's teeth; and to see Edinburgh growing in strength in the same competition – but, when these advances at the top end are being offset by personnel problems in the heartland of the game – Murrayfield, you have a major problem.

The former “Domestic” department at Murrayfield has been renamed as the “Development” department. One hugely-experienced club official of my acquaintance has estimated the new set-up, with all these Business Managers, Regional Administrators, Business Co-ordination Officers and so forth is costing the Union over £1 million per year in salaries and perks.

With more and more games being called-off, and fewer players seemingly playing – are all these wee empires doing the game any good?

And, lest I forget; I had a thorough look through the new 2018-1o Rugby Record, which lists everyone who is anyone inside the SRU – with one notable exception.

There is no mention of the Lesser-Spotted Johnson. Has anyone spotted him lately/