Scots pro rugby could die
Scots pro rugby could die
PA Sport
The Scottish Rugby Union issued a chilling warning on Friday that professional rugby in the country could die as a result of the Anglo-French clubs' decision to boycott the Heineken Cup.
Scottish rugby is already in a perilous state, some £20million ($50 million AUD)in debt, and last week the SRU was forced to close the Borders as a professional entity.
The absence of European competition - both the Heineken Cup and the European Challenge Cup - is expected to cost Scottish rugby £2million ($5 Million AUD) and the SRU fear the consequences could be fatal.
"The French and English clubs' decision to withdraw from the two levels of European competition run by ERC will have a significant rugby and financial impact on all participating countries, and especially for Scotland," read the SRU statement.
"It is clear that if there is no European competition in the 2007-08 season, Scottish Rugby's net revenue will reduce by over £2million, some of which is shared with Edinburgh Rugby Ltd.
"The future viability of the professional game in Scotland could be jeopardised if a successful outcome cannot be reached from these negotiations."
Facing a potential doomsday scenario, the SRU plan to take the matter to the International Rugby Board.
The boycott stems from the Rugby Football Union's refusal to hand 50 plercent of its shareholding and voting rights to Premier Rugby, the Guinness Premiership clubs' umbrella body.
Premier Rugby says an agreement to that effect was reached with the RFU last October, although Twickenham bosses categorically deny it.
The RFU would concede to the clubs' request but not in isolation - they want it to form part of a wider-reaching domestic agreement covering international release periods and player welfare.
The financial fallout from the boycott decision may be hardest felt in Scotland - but it would have a major impact throughout the game.
The four Welsh regions - Cardiff Blues, Llanelli Scarlets, Newport Gwent Dragons and the Ospreys - will each miss out on £500,000 while the Premiership clubs will have to manage a similar shortfall.
All of which raises the grim prospect of potential player redundancies across the European game.
RFU management board chairman Martyn Thomas is anxious to meet with Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Italy to thrash out ways to financially support European rugby.
He said: "We are concerned at the effect the English and French clubs actions will have on the other shareholder unions in ERC who will also suffer significant financial losses.
"We will be calling a meeting of these unions shortly to discuss ways in which European rugby can be supported."
The boycott is also damaging the fabric of the game and risks alienating key partners.
Heineken, supporter of the competition for over a decade, expressed its 'disappointment' at the actions of the English and French clubs.
It also keeping a close eye on developments before deciding how to approach the situation.
Publicly both the RFU and Premier Rugby are talking about the possibility of reaching a last-minute deal to save the Heineken Cup - but privately they are none too confident.
The RFU are already indicating they could invite National League One clubs to take part in next season's Heineken Cup.
Thomas said: "I have been talking to the second division. I am optimistic that if all else fails in returning the English Premiership we will be able to put English teams in and keep the competition going."
Meanwhile, Premier Rugby is bouncing around ideas as to how it can make up for the financial shortfall.
It is looking at the possibility of expanding the play-off system and also staging All Star exhibition matches. It has even been suggested that every team play a Twickenham double-header in an attempt to boost revenues.
But whether those once again caught in the middle of the interminable club versus country rows - the players and the fans - will stomach that remains to be seen.
Professional Rugby Players Association chief executive Damian Hopley demanded an immediate resolution of the long-running saga before permanent damage is done to the game.
Hopley said: "The endless club v country battle is doing material damage to the sport and the players are now calling on both Premier Rugby and the RFU to stop these public disputes and find a lasting solution, in conjunction with the PRA.
"Given the direct financial implications of these latest developments to the club game, we believe that all stakeholders should be able to directly influence the competitions in which they participate, but this must be done as part of a solution that addresses the player welfare and international release issues.
"It is time for both parties to take a leap of faith, get round the table and stop the public slanging matches. The patience of both the rugby players and the rugby fans is wearing extremely thin.
"The PRA are offering to facilitate a meeting with both parties at a neutral venue in order to agree a workable solution."
