A former president of Scottish Rugby has stepped into a row which has resulted in Watsonians forfeiting the place they had earned in the four team Premiership play-offs this weekend.
Ordered to play their match at Ayr on Saturday in opposition to the fixture between Ireland and Scotland in Dublin, the Edinburgh club said they have so many players unavailable, partly due to attending the Six Nations Championship, it would have been unsafe to field a team made up of many reserves.
Selkirk stalwart Bert Duffy, SRU President from 2003-04, said on social media the situation reflected a wider malaise at a time when some clubs have no home competitive fixtures after January in a season that can run until May.
Bert said: “It’s time the SRU got club rugby sorted out. Clubs cannot afford to carry on the way the game is going.”
And he hinted at additional problems traditional clubs are having to endure, adding: “The recent Watsonian situation springs to mind, Financially it is a situation that clubs cannot afford.”
In a statement Watsonians said: “As a result of rearranged fixtures following postponements earlier in the season, in finishing the regular league season in 4th place, we were required to play our play-off semi-final against Ayr RFC at Millbrae next weekend, March 14-15.
“You will know, this is the final weekend of the Six Nations when many players and club members are booked to travel to support Scotland against Ireland. As no club matches were scheduled, a stag weekend has also had a noticeable impact.
“In addition to those sidelined by injury, we have 24 first team squad members unavailable next weekend and we have asked the SRU to reschedule the match, and provided a new schedule proposal which would allow the completion of competitions before the end of April.
“This requires the agreement of the clubs involved, and unfortunately our suggestion has not been accepted and it is with great reluctance and sadness that owing to concerns about player safety we have decided to forfeit the tie.
“With only 19 fit players available, there was a real possibility that 2As players would be selected, and we strongly feel it would be grossly irresponsible and dangerous to ask what are effectively social players to take the field against the runaway league winners with a team including recent professionals.
“This season, three matches have clashed with the Six Nations games which was always going to affect player availability, and which could easily have been avoided.
“We will therefore be making robust representations to the SRU that in future clubs should not be forced to play important games on Six Nations weekends.”
Another source defended the SRU position regarding play-offs,as part of the same social media post featuring Bert Duffy’s comments claiming: “It’s the club representatives who voted for the league structure etc, SRU only facilitate what clubs want.”
In addition to financial concerns and arguments over the play off structure this season has seen a number of clubs, notably Ellon, Royal High and most recently Inverleith, withdraw from league activity.
