Harmony will be key to reign of Ian McLauchlan

Published on Monday 3 May 2010 22:29

ELECTION fever may be sweeping the nation, but one part of the community remains happily immune.

Millions of us have tuned in to the three debates between Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg, and witnessed the dramatic effect they have had on the opinion polls. The Scottish National Party went to court, aggrieved at its exclusion from the broadcasts, while in constituencies around the UK candidates have taken part in hustings, discussing their own policies and denigrating those of their adversaries.

There was a time when this democratic ferment had its equivalent in Scottish rugby; when the shape of the game was the subject of heated argument, and renowned former players went head to head in the quest for high office. Not any more.

This year, Ian McLauchlan, the former national captain, has been nominated unopposed for the presidency of the Scottish Rugby Union. While some critics might equate that lack of opposition with a lack of interest, others, including McLauchlan himself, think it is indicative of a greater harmony which now prevails within the game.

The 68-year-old would regard his own changing attitude as one example of that harmony. Independent-minded and never one to tolerate fools, McLauchlan has at times been fiercely critical of some of the things which have been done in the name of Scottish rugby, but is now confident the game is proceeding in the right direction.

In a series of meetings with clubs he has discussed ideas and come to the conclusion there is broad support for his candidacy, but he will not have to debate those ideas with rivals at the annual general meeting of the SRU. And in some areas, by his own admission, he has yet to formulate ideas, preferring to wait until he has a clearer picture from the inside.

In a press release from Murrayfield yesterday, McLauchlan summed up his hopes in one sentence. "My aim will be to strengthen rugby in Scotland and assist in any way I can to help the clubs to build, the pro-teams to build and the national team to build," he said.

Speaking to The Scotsman yesterday, the president-in-waiting expanded on that broad remark, sketching out his ideas on how to improve the game both on and off the park. Although well aware of the financial difficulties faced by the SRU, McLauchlan remains optimistic – in particular about the national team, which he believes has to be successful if the game as a whole is to thrive.

&#149 HOW WILL YOU HELP CLUBS MAKE ENDS MEET?

"To be honest, I don't know. But if there is a way, I will try to help them in any way I can. The most important thing I can help with is basically to expand interest in Scottish rugby."

&#149 ARE YOU HAPPY HAVING TWO PROFESSIONAL TEAMS OR WOULD YOU LIKE THERE TO BE MORE?

"I would like to have five, but that's impractical. You have to strengthen what you've got. I have confidence in the staff at Murrayfield. They're doing a good job and there's no reason to interfere with it."

&#149 CAN SCOTLAND WIN THE SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP NEXT YEAR?

"Absolutely. There was only one game this year in which they didn't come close to winning, and that was the first one, against France.

"One of the most pleasing things about this championship came right at the end. Scotland had been written off by all the heartstring-tuggers saying Ireland would win the Triple Crown in their last game at Croke Park. Who'd have given odds on Scotland winning? But they did, and that was a fantastic win."

&#149 WHAT WILL BE YOUR PRIORITY – BALANCING THE BOOKS OR SUCCESS FOR THE NATIONAL TEAM?

"If you build a team that can win at Murrayfield, and get that old feeling of Fortress Murrayfield again, and if you can fill the stadium every time there's a game on – that's where success comes from. Everything goes hand in hand with having a successful national team, so that's a priority."

&#149 SHOULD THE PRESIDENT HAVE MORE POWER?

"The president should be a link between the professionals at Murrayfield and the clubs. There's no way he should start to try to run the business, because he's only there for a year, then someone else will come in who might have different ideas and try to change everything again."

&#149 DO YOU SEE THE PRESIDENCY AS JUST A CEREMONIAL OR AMBASSADORIAL ROLE, OR DO YOU THINK YOU CAN HAVE REAL INFLUENCE?

"I think you can influence things once you get in there, so it's not just ambassadorial. There are all sorts of things you can do. Commercially, I know a lot of people, for example, so I may be able to help in that respect."

&#149 YOU ARE YOUR OWN MAN – CAN YOU LIVE WITH THE FRUSTRATION OF HAVING TO GO ALONG WITH COMMITTEE DECISIONS?

"I've sat on a lot of committees. And I think many meetings may be a lot shorter these days than they used to be."

&#149 IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT SCOTTISH RUGBY, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

"I would like everybody in Scottish rugby to contribute to the growth of the game. That's a big ask, I know, but I'd like to get more young guys playing the game, more boys who used to play coming back and playing again, and more volunteers helping out too. There have always been thousands of people doing great voluntary work to help the game, but there's still room for many more."

&#149 WOULD YOU RATHER NOT BE ELECTED UNOPPOSED?

"I don't think so. I'm quite happy to get in this way.

"I talked to a lot of people before I decided to stand, and I've spoken at a lot of clubs to tell them about my ideas and to listen to what they have to say too. Everyone has been very supportive.

"So I hope the fact I'm being nominated unopposed means people agree with what I want to do for the game."

SRU PRESIDENTS SINCE 1990

CEB Stewart 1990-1991

GB Masson 1991-1992

RG Charters 1992-1993

JB Steven 1993-1994

GK Smith 1994-1995

IM Todd 1995-1996

FCH McLeod 1996-1997

C Ritchie 1997-1998

GDM Brown 1998-1999

JHR Wright 1999-2000

IHP Laughland 2000-2001

RG Young 2001-2002

AM Hosie 2002-2003

B Duffy 2003-2004

WG Dixon 2004-2005

AR Irvine 2005-2007

GW Jack 2007-2008

J Stevenson 2008-2010