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From what I can see, the SRU management has undergone some significant changes in recent times and for the better. Amateur rugby in Scotland, junior and senior, is going through a very healthy growth period due to the funding and strategies put in place by the SRU with support from the grass roots clubs. Yes the Reivers has closed down but with the support of the Borders clubs. (Interesting huh, why would the clubs support that?) The clubs are aware that Scottish professional rugby is at stake and with the SRU in financial strife, although there is light at the end of the tunnel due to the managements careful steering over the last few years, it was a decision that had to be made. The SRU could not afford to finance two teams as well as provide the needed continued support at amateur level.
OK, this is where it gets a bit sketchy and I think that a bit of spin doctoring and ego is involved.
With regards to Edinburgh Rugby Ltd. the company that runs the professional team, Edinburgh, and who took over the team a year ago today, well this is my reading on it.
Bob Carruthers who is the main stake holder and his brother Alex, the chief executive, are being portrayed by their own side as not interested in making money on the deal. However, part of the deal was that they became the Murrayfield concert promoters which is one of their primary business streams and where they have made millions in the past. So, they are making money out of the deal and their pure love of the game, as reported, may be slightly tainted. It is interesting to note that there was concern at the outset of this "deal" as a lot of the details were not released, especially pertaining to the amounts to be invested and the sweetener promotional portion of the deal. Where there is smoke there is normally fire.
I would be very interested to find out how the withdrawal of the Edinburgh Rugby team affects the promotional deal. My gut feel is that the SRU may have entered into a bad contract with a money hungry organisation. The Carruthers brothers are reputed to have invented copper wire while arguing over the ownership of a two pence piece, so you can imagine where their loyalty lies.
I'm with the SRU until proven wrong.
On a positive note; if Scotland ends up with one professional team for a while then so be it and we will survive as we have grass roots growth and a whole bunch of capable people in charge of the SRU who want to bring Scottish rugby back to life. However, I hope that we still have two teams and that a reasonable solution can be found for the benefit of Scottish Rugby. No one man, or company for that matter, is bigger than the game.