World Cup plans are safe

Scottish Rugby president Ian McLauchan today insisted preparations for this Autumn's World Cup will be unaffected by the upheaval which has seen chief executive Gordon McKie resign.

Speaking from Italy where he is watching the national under-20s at the junior World Cup, Edinburgh-based McLauchlan said: "The boys (Scotland) will not be affected. They are separate from this."

Ex-international captain McLauchlan, who will be returned unopposed for a second term as president at the SRU's annual meeting on Saturday week, insisted there was plenty of scope for growth.

"The game itself is in good nick with some very good boys coming through and a good national squad," he continued.

"It will take very little (to restore stability and kick start progress).

"But we need to build up numbers."

Questioned about how Edinburgh Rugby, with its central ownership, can compete successfully in the flagship Heineken European Cup without the sort of backing enjoyed by rivals and whether the team would be opened up to some form of private ownership, McLauchlan added: "Every aspect will be looked at with a view to sparking improvement."