Irvine defends SRU position
Scottish Rugby Union president Andy Irvine believes that cutting Scotland’s contingent of professional teams from three teams to two was necessary if the country is to remain a credible force in world rugby.
Irvine was one of the most gifted rugby players of his generation, playing 51 times for Scotland between 1972 and 1982, and also touring with the British and Irish Lions three times.
He was elected president of the SRU in the summer of 2005 and yesterday he explained why he had supported the decision to disband the Border Reivers at the end of the current season.
With Edinburgh already in the hands of private investors, Irvine believes that the money saved by the SRU from closing the Borders can be redirected towards Glasgow Warriors.
“This decision is not an exercise in cutting costs, it’s about taking action so that we can use our money more effectively,” he said.
“If we combine our resources then at least one of our teams in Scotland is going to have a chance, and we’re determined to give at least one of our sides a proper opportunity on the field.
“If you look at what has happened in Ireland – because their pro-teams have been winning that has rubbed off onto the national side. They have got into the habit of winning while our pro-teams have got into the habit of losing, and it’s not fair because they are losing through a lack of resources, and it is about time we gave them proper resources.”
Irvine went on to explain the potential benefits that could become available when the Borders side are disbanded.
“We are going to give them (Glasgow) a decent squad both in quality and also in numbers, we are going to give them decent facilities, and we are going to give them the ability not only to retain players but attract players – because we will have to attract players from overseas if we are going to be competitive.
“Even the mighty Munster, Leicester Tigers and Toulouse have very strong squads supplemented by overseas players.”
“If we do nothing, all that will happen is our professional teams will get weaker and weaker, and the professional game in Scotland will go from bad to worse.”
The former international full-back also confirmed his regret at not being able to sustain three sides.
“The problem is that the players and staff at the Borders are victims of a poor structure. I feel very strongly that if we can possibly afford three teams in Scotland then we should have them, because we would ideally like to have as wide a playing base as possible in order to provide the national team with quality players.
“But we’ve also got to be realistic, and put our hands up and accept that in the last 10 years professional rugby in Scotland has not worked. We have got it wrong.”
