Rugby: Candidates differ as they jostle for SRU president role

Published on Thursday 18 June 2009 10:34

CURRENT Scottish Rugby president Jim Stevenson is campaigning for a second term at next week's annual meeting on a platform of a third professional team being introduced and additional help for traditional clubs.

At the same time, rival candidate Finlay Calder, whose manifesto-style CV is also published on the governing body's web-site, insists Ireland offers the ideal role model for the game in Scotland and urges emulating their standards.

A third candidate, Jim Gracie, highlights more than 40 years' involvement in rugby from player to administrator.

In a comprehensive submission president Stevenson says he wants to "review the union's expenditure ... to get more money into the rugby end" and "maximise scarce club finances by developing additional income and savings".

And Stevenson insists there is a need to "alter the focus to better support the club rugby scene".

Such remarks come on a day when former International Board President Syd Millar, of Ireland, is warning of dire consequences for club rugby unless action is taken. Former Lions player and manager Millar, now president of Ballymena, is quoted in the Belfast Telegraph, saying: "There is great concern with regards to the future of the club game at its highest level. It continues to be downgraded.

"If the current brand continues to be diminished, sponsors, supporters and volunteers will walk away. Young players learn by playing with and against experienced players, not sitting on benches.

"We have got an imbalance in our rugby and this needs to be corrected or else we will pay dearly in the future."

In the same article Millar hails the achievements of Ireland winning the grand slam, Leinster the Heineken European Cup and Munster the Celtic League – something which would resonate with ex-Scotland and Lions captain, Finlay Calder, who says: "Ireland have set the highest of standards to which we must aspire both on and off the field. We have some catching up to do and it will not be easy but if we all pull together from the schools all the way through the clubs, the referees, the supporters and the executive then it can and will be done."