Peeblesshire News | Sport | Sevens 'Kick in the teeth'

Friday, 5th December, 2008

Published: Friday, 29th September, 2006 10:40

Sevens 'Kick in the teeth'

By Atholl Innes

AT a time when Borders rugby is at its lowest ebb, the Scottish Rugby Union has delivered yet another kick in the teeth.

And now the SRU is in direct confrontation with the Executive Group set up to bring the IRB Sevens to Melrose next year,

The Union says it will bid for the sevens (the bid has to be by today, Friday) — but that the tournament will go ahead at Murrayfield.

Melrose might get it in 2008… and all this has led to a war of words between David Parker, Leader of Scottish Borders Council, and Gordon McKie, the SRU chief executive.

Melrose looks set to lose out on the IRB Sevens next year...but may be given the tournament in 2008.

`I am bitterly disappointed to hear through the media that the SRU is going it alone to bring the IRB 7s tournament to Murrayfield,” said Councillor Parker.

“I want to put the record straight.

“A partnership of Eventscotland, Scottish Enterprise Borders, Melrose Rugby Club and Scottish Borders Council have been working hard for two years to prepare a business case to bring this world class event to Melrose for five years. We thought the SRU was also a fully committed partner in this enterprise.

“From the start it was recognised that a company would be created to manage the event, with all partners having an equal share. The SRU was offered a place on the management board. It was not expected that the SRU would make any direct funding contribution. “Firm and approved funding commitments have been made by the public partners to support the agreed business case. The Council has made a firm commitment to provide support of up to £299,000, with additional underwriting of £565,000.

The Council has also arranged to provide an interest free loan of £250,000 to meet the start-up costs of the new company.

“Other financial support from partner agencies, EventScotland and Scottish Enterprise Borders brings the total funding commitment to £2.14 million to the event over the five years. This funding commitment covers all the costs of the event, including the temporary stands. This is all documented.

Unfortunately the SRU wants all of this and more. After months of prevarication, it turns out that the SRU wants all of this public money simply to be handed over as a gift.

“The SRU wants complete control of the whole event. The SRU wants the right of veto over staff appointments.

“We are quite simply not free to agree to such unreasonable terms.

If rugby is to flourish in Scotland again, the SRU needs to work in partnership with people who are well inclined towards it. If it fails to learn this lesson, Scottish rugby will be left with a dwindling circle of friends.`

And he added: “We are very disappointed that we have not been able to secure the funding.

“The SRU was of the view that ‘we want your money and we want to control it.

“This is a missed opportunity for the Borders. We have worked very hard and believed we had a great Business Plan in place.

“They (SRU) will be getting no money from us.

“I can tell you that everyone who has worked on this Plan is pretty sick about this decision.”

Andy Purves, of Melrose RFC, who sits on the Executive Committee, would make no comment.

But there is no doubt that the natives are angry that the Union has “hijacked” the sevens.

“If it goes to Murrayfield, it will be a total disaster, atmosphere-wise,” said former Borders SRU representative George Storey, of Hawick Linden.

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