NEW Scottish Rugby president Jim Stevenson today flashed a message of hope to clubs who wish to test their abilities and ambitions playing in European cross-border competitions.
After the longest SRU agm since doors were thrown open to the media more than 30 years ago – the meeting lasted in excess of three hours – which saw official moves to suspend the Scottish Cup pending a revamp of the competitive structure defeated and
Cambuslang's Stevenson oust sitting tenant George Jack (Leith/Biggar) from the presidency, the new man set out his stall. And, straight away, Stevenson showed himself willing to confront the contentious issues including Europe which has been a holy grail for some clubs since the advent of professionalism in 1995-96.
"It would need to be Premier One clubs (who entered)," said Stevenson making it clear any venture would need to be self-financing. He added: "If they want that it should really be a decision for these clubs. If they want to do it and can finance it fine."
Self-determination for clubs was the key to Stevenson's election campaign and he also indicated that thought would be given to reintroducing some form of district rugby.
"Some of the best times I have had is playing for some district or county side. It gives the club player an opportunity to play at a higher representative level," he said.
The appointment of Stevenson over Jack, who was seeking a rare second term, was another example of clubs flexing new found muscle. This was shown in the way they knocked back attempts to reorganise the domestic scene without an alternative.
And they certainly were in no mood to allow a Murrayfield quango to do it for them without matters being approved by an agm, again as suggested.
At times voting on various amendments became confused while Finance Director Eamon Hegarty found himself in the eye of a storm by challenging a Peebles delegate's timing of a question on why the salary bill had increased significantly on the previous year. Amidst claims that the question "should have been submitted in advance" it was agreed to provide more detailed information on the lines that in 2007-08 the wages of Edinburgh rugby staff became the responsibility of the SRU as opposed to private owners.
The full article contains 388 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
