Peeblesshire News | Sport | Battle lost, as Borders face facts

Thursday, 4th December, 2008

Published: Friday, 20th April, 2007 14:57

Battle lost, as Borders face facts

By Atholl Innes

THE battle to save the Border Reivers has been lost.

In 24 hours of dramatic events, the Border League clubs agreed with the SRU on Tuesday night that running a pro team at Netherdale was not a viable proposition.

And the following day, it leaked out that there was no financial support for a rescue package, at least at present.

After a meeting lasting almost four hours at Galashiels, the Union’s bosses escaped unscathed from a grilling by Borders club officials.

Chief executive Gordon McKie and chairman Allan Munro had arrived in a chauffeur-driven car (no expense spared) while president Andy Irvine was already in the premises an hour before the 7 p.m. start.

Delegates arrived aiming to press the SRU bosses on the various issues affecting the pro game.

But the meeting, I understand, was a bit of a damp squib short of the fireworks expected following the decision to close the Reivers.

In a nutshell, representatives agreed with the Union that keeping the Borders alive was not a financial option and retaining Glasgow was a better commercial proposition.

There was no general comment from the officials as they left for the drive back to Edinburgh with McKie elaborating on the decision at a press briefing yesterday, Thursday, at Murrayfield.

John Davidson, of Jed-Forest, vice-president of the Border League, told the Peeblesshire News: “Now that I have heard the details first hand, I am satisfied that the Union has taken the correct long-term decision for Scottish rugby.”

Surprising, therefore, that the Borders has caved in so easily, but McKie did offer to open the financial ‘books’ if any delegates wanted to see them.

Hawick vice-president Terence Froud said he would take up the offer, adding: “It is now clear that to keep two teams would not be realistic.”

But he called for a meeting with Henry Edwards, the Union’s Academy manager, for a meeting over the future of the academies.

It was evident that the Union had no long-term plans for the Academy players except that based on the Caledonia model.

“This is annoying for me as a Hawick represent,” said Froud. “What happens to the players? Where will they go? How will it work?

“There was nothing on the table, and that is sad.”

Davidson added: “It is important for the good of the game that Borders clubs work constructively with the SRU in promoting the club game here and to continue to promote the development of young players.

“To that end, further meetings are planned to take place in the near future to progress matters.”

And as McKie and Munro got back into their chauffeur-driven car, Borders rugby officials were left with a sense of déjà vu.

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