Hopes high for new league structure plans

John Davidson, chairman of the 'Season Structure Working Party' set up by the SRU and their club representatives after last year's AGM, explained yesterday the thinking behind a plan that he believes now has the majority of Scottish clubs' backing.

It is very similar to that which appeared at the 2010 AGM proposed by a group of clubs working with the 'Forum of Scottish Rugby Supporters' (FOSRS). The Scottish Rugby Council and Board argued then that the motion lacked key ingredients, and worked quite vigorously behind the scenes to encourage clubs to vote against it.

Davidson, from Jed-Forest RFC and the Premier Two representative on the Scottish Rugby Council, insisted yesterday, however, that there had been wide agreement among clubs that the proposals had merit and merely needed more time for dialogue, which was why the working party was formed.

The difference now, he stated, was that after more than 20 meetings held across the country, and a further ten comprising the working party itself, all clubs had been given opportunities to debate the changes and that a key ingredient of governance - the question of who would represent clubs' interests in the new structure - would form part of the motion. The answer to that has been worked on by a separate SRU working party and is due to be released next week.

Davidson said: "We have always had the majority viewpoint at heart and I'm pleased to say there is total unanimity from the working party right through the Scottish Rugby Council.

"We were mandated to bring to the AGM a motion that would succeed and that is why we went down this huge consultation effort, and I am confident that this will receive the majority vote at the AGM.

"The difference now is that the motion put to the AGM last year had no governance attachments to it, and this year it will all go to the AGM in one package. It is, in effect, much the same as was put to the clubs last season."

Colin Thomson, the SRU's Head of Community Rugby, added that this would probably mean current council members losing their seats, but made it clear that they had accepted that as part of the need for change.

He said: "The volunteers and council representatives within John's team have spent hours and hours and hours and hours travelling across the country, and should be hugely commended for their work on this. They have taken a pragmatic way forward, which will not please everybody, but it is about driving the game forward and John's team have shown strong leadership."The SRU has reported an increase of 4,500 adult players, taking the total to 13,500, since 2006, but acknowledged that in that time clubs had gone out of business, such as Hawick Trades, which developed many internationalists including Colin Deans, while others were under threat due to rising costs.

Although the SRU continues to increase its investment in the club game, trebling the assistance from 2006 to 1.8 million last year, the loss of sponsorship from BT and Scottish Hydro and a dearth of broadcasting interest, has been a blow. There is currently neither a sponsor nor a broadcaster of the domestic rugby championships.

Davidson said that another issue to have emerged from the consultation was the prevalence of clubs being weakened for away games by losing players unable to travel through work commitments. He said: "That is a major problem we discovered, where teams were effectively fielding an away team and a different home team depending on what players were able to travel, which was affecting leagues.

"By cutting down on travel we could get more years out of players, guys who have to work on Saturday mornings to make ends meet, and which contributes to that two-team culture representing a club.

"We set out with agreed principles to find a structure that brings enjoyment to all involved, shortens the season, reduces travel costs, reduces time involved for all, assists in growing the game and retains players in the game.

"The working party believes that the competition structure we've now proposed would also avoid rescheduled fixtures running into closed time, increase the opportunity to play the most important games in better weather, reduce the time away from home on rugby duty for all and ensure teams are promoted or relegated quicker.

"As I've said, this may not be the perfect answer, but it will alleviate a lot of problems - and we believe better serve the objectives of player, coach, referee and volunteer recruitment and retention at all levels of the game."

The changes are being stepped over two years to ensure all clubs know what they are playing for next season, and to acknowledge the need for the wealth of volunteers upon whom club rugby relies to prepare.

In 2011-12, the main change will be the greater regionalisation of the lower leagues into West (four divisions), East (three divisions), Caledonia (one division), and Midlands and North (two divisions each).

The Premier One, Two and Three and National League will remain with 12 teams and retain their split after 11 games. In season 2012-13, there will be just one Premier League with a National League below, above two new 'Championship' leagues, split geographically east and west or north and south. Each of these divisions will drop to ten teams and 18 fixtures, scrapping the mid-season split.The regional leagues will also alter again with all North and Midlands leagues coming under the Caledonia banner and split further across east and west.

The new proposal also has the potential to reinvigorate the Scottish Cup, depending on how pro-active clubs are, as it shifts to regional qualifying, again to reduce the number of games and travel time and costs.

Clubs in each of the four districts are being invited to come together and decide their own method of qualifying tournament and when it is played, with teams qualifying for the Shield and Bowl through the same route.

Davidson said that this was an attempt to 'give the clubs back the cup', and find local solutions in each district to what for many has become a troublesome competition.

It also creates scope for more local derbies at all levels, which could increase attendances and income, and lessen travel time for players and supporters. The Border League, won by Melrose on Wednesday night, is likely to be used in the south as the qualifier, the winner progressing to the Scottish Cup semi-finals, where they will join the winners of the Edinburgh, Caledonia and West qualifying tournaments in the draw.

The working party featured representatives from all levels of the game and the north, south, east and west, namely Peter Wright, the Premier One representative, Davidson in Premier Two, Ian Smith (Premier Three), Jim Greenwood and Jim Stevenson (National One), Paddy Hart (Regional Leagues) and Bruce Thomson (schools rep).

Davidson added: "We are all club men, still involved with our clubs and are passionate about the game, so it has been easy for us to acknowledge the problems that are out there.

"Personally, it has been an absolutely wonderful journey. I thought I knew a little bit about Scottish rugby, but after doing the travelling east, west, north, south, into the diverse cultures we have to understand more of the problems. It is complicated. But you have to pay tribute to the passion of the administrators and players that keep rugby alive in these four corners.

"That has been the driver for us all to get a solution. We understand that not everyone will be satisfied with what we have come up with, but our submission is full of honest endeavour, and we hope that everyone will gather round and support the motion for the greater good of Scottish rugby."

How exactly the new structure, if passed at the AGM, fits into the season will now be a matter for the Scottish Rugby Council of elected club representatives and SRU Championship Committee.