Inter-Districts: Maybes Aye, Maybes Naw, But Not At The Level Its Supporters Crave

 JUST as I expected, the high heid yins at BT Murrayfield have said: “You're not on lads,” to the AGM motion calling for a return to Inter-District play at the expense of Super6 rugby.

In the Union's latest circular to club officials, outlining decisions taken at recent Board and Council meetings, Murrayfield makes it clear – they would welcome an Inter-District competition – if desired by the clubs – but at a level below S6, which they still see as a crucial part of the Union's High Performance Rugby strategy.

That is a view which I have long held. I also note the Union has, albeit belatedly, confirmed, the funding for S6 comes from the High Performance budget, rather than the Community Rugby one.

The view from HQ is that any introduction of an Inter-District competition should be dealt with through the normal season structure consultation process and their view is that such a competition replacing S6 would not be in the best interests of ensuring there is a player development pathway in place.

The SRU briefing paper also mentions the Glasgow Hawks AGM motion calling for greater transparency on how the Scottish Government financial support re Covid is to be spent.

It seems pretty straight-forward to me. However, the Union apparatchiks point-out, if they or the clubs were to be stopped spending some of the money in hiring non-Scottish-qualified players, it could leave them open to possible legal action under the 2010 Equality Act. However, the Union will put forward a simple amendment designed to get round this thorny issue.

As I think I have said before on this, we could always go back to Chick Young's 'Eight Diddies Act' in football – the old rule where by a Scottish club could only field three non-Scottish-qualified players in any one XI. It doesn't stop a club hiring non-Scots, but, they can only play a limited number in the team at any one time.

For instance, in England, the RFU are now insisting on 15 “England-qualified” players in each match-day 23-man squad. That equates to 65%, which, for my money is a wee bit on the low side. They used to have a 70% rule in place.

The third motion up for discussion is the Haddington one, calling for the abolition of the in-house legal department at Murrayfield. This one, The Junta is going to fight.

Cynic that I am, I get the impression, perhaps old 'Howzat' is threatening to spill the beans as to where the bodies are buried, if he looks like getting booted out.

Interestingly, as with the other motions, the suggestion is – this should be a matter for the Governance Review Committee, should they ever get around to reporting on their ongoing deliberations. Did they bring in Stuart Hogg to kick that particular can down the road?

The suggestion is, if the in-house legal team is disbanded, it could incur costs of upwards of £1.5 million per year. Over to some of the well-heeled lawyers on various clubs for a view on that particular hot potato. No, let's not bother – some might think that was doing things on the cheap.

I HAVE become somewhat detached from The Lions over recent tours, with the way Scottish players have been side-lined to a degree.

Sure, I am delighted to see us getting guys into the starting XV and on the bench, but, I don't see myself searching-out somewhere showing the game live tomorrow night. I will continue my policy of refusing to pay Uncle Rupert's levy to watch the game, I will wait for the Channel four highlights package.

I do think, however, there has still been an element of politics at play in the XV. I would start Mish every game, but, I think the English Media Mafia would have taken-out a contract on Gatland, had he not picked their golden boy Curry.

Wyn Jones v Sutherland was another toss of a coin call for the starting shirt, but, at least Rory knows, he will get on. It's not a bad team, weakened by the Finn Russell injury, and I feel, the odds slightly favour the Bokke.

 

 

BY THE WAY, not that the Test Series will need it, but, there's a wee extra edge to tomorrow's opening Test, since the Unofficial World RugbyChampionship is also up for grabs.

The Unofficial title is arrived at by taking the boxing concept of: you win the world title, you keep it till you lose, then whoever beats you is World Champion until they lose. Scotland won the first international, back in 1871, to become the first World Champions. Extrapolate that result forard over the years and you find, when the Lions beat ll Blacks in the Third Test in 2017, they became the latest champions under that system. Now four years later, the South Africans have a chance to add the Unofficial title to the Official one they won in 2019.

David Barnes has the full listings – compiled by an old rugby hack with too-much time on his hands - and is hoping to run a story in TOL, so, I will not cramp his style here, but, read it when it appears, there are some fascinating results in the listings.

FINALLY, good luck and go well to two Scots whose Olympic Games participation has gone somewhat under the radar.

I refer to Sam Grove-White and Hollie Davidson, both of whom will be on refereeing duty at the Games, in the Rugby Sevens tournament.

It's Sam's second straight Games and a first time in the Olympic goldfish bowl for wee Hollie – good luck you two.