Rugby: Hawick's inability to raise a team is 'a black day for Scottish rugby'

Alarm bells have been set ringing in Scottish rugby after 12 times national champions Hawick released a statement saying they would be unable to fulfil a scheduled Premiership fixture at Glasgow Hawks today due to a lack of players in a key position.

Some critics insist this represents the tip of an iceberg at a time when many clubs are believed to be struggling, although a Hawick insider attributed the lack of front row players and substitutes to a "horrendous injury toll". The club could only find two front-row players.

However, former Edinburgh, Scotland and Lions captain Finlay Calder, who lives in the Borders, reacted cautiously, saying: "I attended a Hawick match around six weeks ago and the club seemed in good spirits. I suspect this has more to do with the need for specialist cover then a lack of playing resources."

Two players with front-row experience are required to be substitutes on safety grounds but ex-Hawick and Scotland star Ian Barnes, who now coaches Edinburgh University, admitted he was "shocked" by the revelation.

Drawing on experience of representing the Premier One clubs on the SRU Council last year, Barnes said: "I think the game is in horrible trouble. They (the SRU] claim there are 10,500 (players] but my calculations tell me that even at 30 players per active club there would only be 6,500. This is a black day for Scottish rugby as well as Hawick."

It is understood the situation may be connected with the fact the Hawick YM club, who have traditionally contributed to the main town side, can clinch promotion to National League Division One today which left players reluctant to step up.

However, many of Barnes' fears were echoed by ex-Edinburgh and Scotland prop Norrie Rowan who said: "The fact a club of Hawick's history can't find sufficient players cuts through the spin and shows the state Scottish rugby is in.

"I hope I'm wrong but this could be the tip of an iceberg because a lot of clubs are in trouble financially and part of the problem is the lack of incentive to turn out in front of big crowds in well reported matches because they've been downgraded. Players are voting with their feet."

An SRU spokesman said: "Figures on playing numbers are audited extremely accurately," before issuing a statement indicating Hawick were in breach of championship regulations and had until Monday to provide reasons.