Scottish Rugby Still Imploding

[The EnForcer]

Not good....http://www.scottishrugby.org/sru/int...7-BAF09D296BBE

I read an article yesterday and apparently reporters have nicknamed the owner of Edinburgh, Carruthers, "Sideshow" Carruthers. This is with reference to his continued press conferences....he's a spinning bastard and bringing our game down!

Apparently the rules of the Magners League is that each nation must provide between 2 and 4 teams to compete. Basically this means that if Edinburgh goes down in this ego and greed fueled fight then so does Scottish professional rugby.

[Em-Forcer]

Yeah, and I read an article where Carruthers basically moaned about losing players to national duty. Not much spirit of fitting into the general picture and structure of Scottish Rugby, then...! He then went on to contradict himself when questioned about Paterson's loss, implying that the squad could compete even though various high-profile names have left.
I think there is sympathy with clubs losing players to the national team due to daft scheduling, but if he moans about it in principle, as opposed to opening a constructive debate about the rugby calendar, then that sympathy goes out of the window, because he appears to be purely self-interested, rather than using his position to help improve the situation.

[Flat-top]

Scott Murray signed for a French club according to reports, another exile it would appear...if SRU don't hold onto ERFC they are risk of forfeiting their place in Magners league and European competition as rules suggest each nation must have at least two clubs.

[Burgs]

Not sure how this all sits with the Celtic League requirements?
Any local updates Em or F-T?

AGREEMENT REACHED OVER EDINBURGH PRO-TEAM

Posted by SRU: 10/Aug/07

Scottish Rugby and Edinburgh Rugby have announced today that they have reached an agreement over the future of the capital’s professional team, which will return to Scottish Rugby’s ownership.

With immediate effect, Scottish Rugby’s agreements with Edinburgh Rugby Limited and its holding company, Murrayfield Sport and Leisure Limited have been terminated by mutual consent.

Both Scottish Rugby and Edinburgh Rugby have agreed to drop all claims against each other and, also with immediate effect, Scottish Rugby will be responsible once more for professional rugby in the capital.

Scottish Rugby will now establish a new professional team to replace Edinburgh Rugby, which will include all existing players and the majority of the management and backroom staff.

Both parties have agreed that acting Managing Director for Edinburgh Rugby Limited, Dean Lewis, and coach Lynn Howells will not be transferring to the new Edinburgh team.

Scottish Rugby has begun the process of assessing the coaching and management requirements for the new pro team and, as an interim measure, Henry Edwards, Scottish Rugby’s Head of Player Development, will act as the team’s interim head coach.

Scottish Rugby also confirmed that Nic Cartwright has been appointed as Chief Executive of the new pro team and takes up his position on Monday 13 August. Previously he was Chief Executive of Harlequins Rugby League Club, having been with what was formerly known as the London Broncos since 1998 as Commercial Director, then Chief Executive. Cartwright led the Broncos through a challenging period of changes in ownership and managed their transition to Harlequins Rugby League Club, based at the Twickenham Stoop.

To facilitate the transaction, Scottish Rugby has agreed to make a settlement to Murrayfield Sport and Leisure to terminate that company’s future right to be the exclusive concert promoter at the national stadium, and a further sum will be paid to facilitate the transfer of the goodwill and undertaking of Edinburgh Rugby to Scottish Rugby. Agreement was also reached on the clear understanding that Murrayfield Sport and Leisure and Edinburgh Rugby will use the settlement figure to discharge all remaining liabilities of those companies.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Gordon McKie, Chief Executive of Scottish Rugby said,
“This has been a challenging period for all concerned and after many months of protracted and often difficult negotiations, we have arrived at a solution both parties can live with.

“From a Scottish Rugby perspective, we have always sought to act in the best long term interests of the game and our focus can now be switched fully to continuing to grow the game at all levels in Scotland. There is now the exciting prospect of two credible and ambitious professional teams based in Scotland, which will of course be very much at the heart of the national governing body’s priorities.

“We have assured the Edinburgh players there will be minimal disruption to their training schedules and preparations for the new season. We also look forward to rebuilding the vitally important relationship with the team’s many loyal supporters and we are seeking a meeting with them in the immediate future.

“Finally, we will be contacting all relevant Edinburgh sponsors as a priority, to reassure them the capital’s pro team has a solid future.”

[The EnForcer]

Well for me it's a win. As you can imagine there are a lot of opinions on what is the best result but from my perspective we have a result that allows Scottish profesional rugby to continue, this being the most important outcome. As has been commented by many in Scotland we will never know the full story of what actually occured. However, it's time to move on and now the debate is whether the SRU should and can find some solid corporate backers to take over the running of the two remaining Scottish teams. I hope so.

To give Scottish rugby a badly needed boost our boys must give a solid performance in the RWC which will bring back some pride to our great rugby nation. This will be the cataylst needed to move us onto bigger and better things. Ireland has proven it is possible to succesfully develop professional rugby in a small nation. Effectively we have been given a second chance and the model is there, so the SRU has no excuses and just needs to ensure they have the right people in place to drive the necessary changes.

From the SRU Site

AGREEMENT REACHED OVER EDINBURGH PRO-TEAM
Posted: 10/Aug/07
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scottish Rugby and Edinburgh Rugby have announced today that they have reached an agreement over the future of the capital’s professional team, which will return to Scottish Rugby’s ownership.

With immediate effect, Scottish Rugby’s agreements with Edinburgh Rugby Limited and its holding company, Murrayfield Sport and Leisure Limited have been terminated by mutual consent.

Both Scottish Rugby and Edinburgh Rugby have agreed to drop all claims against each other and, also with immediate effect, Scottish Rugby will be responsible once more for professional rugby in the capital.

Scottish Rugby will now establish a new professional team to replace Edinburgh Rugby, which will include all existing players and the majority of the management and backroom staff.

Both parties have agreed that acting Managing Director for Edinburgh Rugby Limited, Dean Lewis, and coach Lynn Howells will not be transferring to the new Edinburgh team.

Scottish Rugby has begun the process of assessing the coaching and management requirements for the new pro team and, as an interim measure, Henry Edwards, Scottish Rugby’s Head of Player Development, will act as the team’s interim head coach.

Scottish Rugby also confirmed that Nic Cartwright has been appointed as Chief Executive of the new pro team and takes up his position on Monday 13 August. Previously he was Chief Executive of Harlequins Rugby League Club, having been with what was formerly known as the London Broncos since 1998 as Commercial Director, then Chief Executive. Cartwright led the Broncos through a challenging period of changes in ownership and managed their transition to Harlequins Rugby League Club, based at the Twickenham Stoop.

To facilitate the transaction, Scottish Rugby has agreed to make a settlement to Murrayfield Sport and Leisure to terminate that company’s future right to be the exclusive concert promoter at the national stadium, and a further sum will be paid to facilitate the transfer of the goodwill and undertaking of Edinburgh Rugby to Scottish Rugby. Agreement was also reached on the clear understanding that Murrayfield Sport and Leisure and Edinburgh Rugby will use the settlement figure to discharge all remaining liabilities of those companies.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Gordon McKie, Chief Executive of Scottish Rugby said,
“This has been a challenging period for all concerned and after many months of protracted and often difficult negotiations, we have arrived at a solution both parties can live with.

“From a Scottish Rugby perspective, we have always sought to act in the best long term interests of the game and our focus can now be switched fully to continuing to grow the game at all levels in Scotland. There is now the exciting prospect of two credible and ambitious professional teams based in Scotland, which will of course be very much at the heart of the national governing body’s priorities.

“We have assured the Edinburgh players there will be minimal disruption to their training schedules and preparations for the new season. We also look forward to rebuilding the vitally important relationship with the team’s many loyal supporters and we are seeking a meeting with them in the immediate future.

“Finally, we will be contacting all relevant Edinburgh sponsors as a priority, to reassure them the capital’s pro team has a solid future.”

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