FOR
some
time now, this blog, and other rugby media outlets, have been calling
for the SRU to fund at least a third professional side. The obvious
core situation for such a team has, in our opinion, and in the
opinion of several other commentators, been London Scottish.
That
club has an honoured place in Scottish rugby history, not least from
the fact, it has produced more Scotland caps than any other club. It
is already functioning as a professional club, and, it seems to us,
entirely sensible that the co-operation agreement, which the club and
the SRU entered into earlier this season should have been extended
and expanded.
Our
preferred option would be for Scottish to become a London-based Pro12
club, tapping into the Scottish diaspora in the capital and the
greater financial muscle which the Scotia Nostra in the City of
London could come up with. Sadly, this aint gonna happen. Scottish
have today announced the ending of even their arms-length agreement
with the SRU, and, they are making it quite clear, it's Murrayfield's
fault.
I
dare say, when Murrayfield gets around to explaining their part in
the whole minor disaster, theirs will be a different tale, time will
tell, but, it is disappointing to see something which promised much,
ending so soon and in such rancour.
What
happens next? Well, all may not be lost. We keep hearing that the
semi-professional Premiership will happen, maybe Murrayfield has
decided, their resources are better spent in Scotland, on home-Scots
players, playing for Scottish clubs. We must wait and see. Or, maybe
they are going to fund the acquisition of some world-class talent for
Edinburgh and Glasgow. It might even be, their gin bill has been
greater than budgeted for, you never can tell with the blazers.
We
can only think, unless they come up with something wonderful from
left field, and this is Murrayfield we are talking about, a golden
chance might have been lost and the wrong decision has been made –
again.
AT
LEAST, Dom
McKay and his team, by all accounts, made rather a good job of
organising Saturday's Guinness Pro12 final, at BT Murrayfield.
Dominic McKay, his team produced a cracking Pro12 final
The
day went well, the match attracted a record crowd of nearly 35,000
and Connacht, the underdogs, had their day. Well done Pat Lam, John
Muldoon and the men from the West of Ireland. You earned it.
TWO
different
squads met-up for the first time today. At Murrayfield, the Scotland
squad for the Summer Tour to Japan convened, while in London, the
Team GB Sevens squad for the Olympic Games met-up for the first time.
Good luck to both groups, in particular to the Scots in the Sevens
squad.
ITALIAN
referee
Marius Matrea had the whistle in yesterday's England v Wales match
at Twickenham – his first Tier 1 international. He did better there
than he has in some Pro12 games, as did his two touch judges – Haud
It and Daud It, of George Clancy and John Lacey.
Marius Matrea
Well,
that's the top Italian official getting a Tier 1 international, how
long must we wait before the top Scottish referee gets a Pro12 game?
