Aberdeen get northern exposure

Edinburgh Accies defeated Heriot’s at Goldenacre, Gala gave Glasgow Hawks a bloody nose at Netherdale and, in the north, Currie were put to the sword by Aberdeen Grammar.

The last of these results should be a particular cause for celebration for anyone who cares about the future of Scottish rugby (with the honourable exception, of course, of those associated with the beaten team).

It has been four years since Grammar were last in Premier One and, with no other team from the north-east currently in a position to compete at that level, we have been left with an unsatisfactory situation whereby one of Scottish rugby’s most fertile breeding grounds has not been able to offer its best young talent the chance to put themselves in the shop window for professional and international age-grade recognition.

Everybody agrees that a broad geographic spread in Premier One is desirable but, throughout the 38-year history of organised leagues, club rugby has been dominated by central belt and Border teams. Only once has the league title been won by a team north of the Union Canal. That was back in 1995 when Stirling County topped the table.

This situation has not stopped some very good players emerging from the region, but the danger is that for every Chris Cusiter, Ruaridh Jackson or Jason White who travels south to make their name at the highest level, we lose another talented youngster who is just too isolated from the sharp end of Scottish rugby to realise their dream.

Now, with Grammar joining Stirling and Dundee HSFP in the top flight of the Scottish club game there is an opportunity for the area which used to be known as the North and Midlands before being rebranded as Caledonia in the early years of professionalism, to start to realise its potential as an area where players are not only produced but are also able to compete.

Alex Duncan has been head coach at Grammar for the last two and a half years and has been instrumental in building relationships with smaller neighbouring clubs so as to harness local talent and ensure that everyone is playing at a standard best suited to their ability. He hopes that his work here will help ensure that Grammar can become permanent residents in Premier One.

“We’re actively working with Ellon, Gordonians and Aberdeenshire so that guys we categorise as development players are dual registered and can go and help these clubs while simultaneously getting invaluable experience of playing tough competitive rugby. This in turn helps them when they eventually come back to us,” he explained. “At the same time we are giving guys from these clubs who are ready to move onto a higher level somewhere local to go. At the moment we have three guys who came through the ranks at Ellon in our team.

“I think there is an acceptance that Aberdeen can only really support one club in Premier One, so it is about trying to encourage this pyramid system to allow every team to reach a level they can stay at. It takes a bit of management but it is a system that can benefit everybody.

“There has always been a lot of good junior rugby in the north-east, with a lot of commitment shown by players, parents and coaches when you think of all the travel demands we face,” he added.

“But as kids get older it becomes more of a struggle because of a lack of good senior rugby. Hopefully Grammar can become a real focal point in that sense.

“That result against Currie might have been a shock to everyone else, but anyone who has been following us this season will appreciate that it was long overdue,” Duncan continued.

“Fortunately it all came together last week. Needless to say, we’re all keen to back that win up with a big performance at Hawick, but we know that they are in the position we were last week and will be desperate for their first win so it is going to be tough.”