Logan lambasts 'disgraceful' SRU

Saturday June 23 2007
Source: BBC Website


Former Scotland winger Kenny Logan has fiercely criticised the Scottish Rugby Union following the recent disbandment of the Border Reivers.
Logan thinks the SRU is threatening the existence of the sport in Scotland by leaving just two professional teams.

"It's an absolute disgrace, they are ruining the sport," Logan told BBC Radio Northampton.

"We are years behind England, Wales and France. The SRU haven't got a grip of professional sport."

Logan - who starred for Glasgow and Wasps as well as Scotland - fears a generation of Scottish rugby players could be missed because of the decision to close the Reivers.

He asked: "Why would a young child want to play rugby for Scotland now?

"Because they are cutting the teams, more players will leave Scotland as it's going to be hard to get into just two sides.

"Those running the game understand figures and accountancy but not sport.

"They should stick to what they're good at - running businesses and not a sport."

Logan - who retired in 2005 - believes the Scots must reach at least the quarter finals of this September's World Cup in France.

"We didn't do well in the Six Nations this year compared to last," he said.

"We have New Zealand and Italy in our group and Italy beat us at Murrayfield, which was a huge blow, so that's a big game for us now.

"If we don't reach the quarter finals it will be a disaster."

Logan - who won 70 caps between 1992 and 2003 - also believes that Scotland coach Frank Hadden will have to step down if the Scots under-perform at the World Cup.

"Frank Hadden made an immediate impact but he is under more pressure now as he has had his honeymoon period," he said.

"We don't look like scoring tries as was shown by the A team scoring one try against the USA when England put 51 points past the same team.

"Frank has got to reach at least the quarters.

"He'll have to walk away if we don't beat Italy because that would be our worst World Cup ever - the best we've done is the semi-finals and we have always reached the quarters."