Since rugby went professional in 1995 Scotland has never really settled on the way to go about professional rugby, and the dynamics of the game at this level have chopped and changed. At first four professional teams were created by the SRU to compete in the Heineken Cup and European Cup.
These teams did not fare too well in the in the European competition, and when the Celtic League was formed, four pro teams went to two, with the Edinburgh Reivers and Glasgow Caledonia Reds representing Scotland in all competitions. A few seasons later the SRU introduced a Borders professional team, and we then had the Edinburgh Gunners, Glasgow Warriors and Border Reivers. With the Border Reivers struggling and financial problems for the SRU mounting, the Borders representative team was then scrapped, and we now have Edinburgh Rugby and the Glasgow Warriors.
During this time, with the emphasis on the professional teams, the domestic league in Scotland hasn’t been able to develop. With almost all of the money being invested in the pro teams, the amateur clubs have struggled to grow in terms of support, standards and the league is less prestigious.
So, with the pro teams still not consistently competing with the top professional outfits in Europe, would an option be to concentrate on and invest in the domestic game in Scotland? If Scotland was to do so how would they go about it? Well here is one idea;
The amateur clubs become professional
Scotland forget about the Celtic League and scrap the two current pro teams. The teams in the Scottish Premiership are all given financial support, and a professional league in Scotland is created replacing the amateur league.
The clubs have players of varying professionalism
With each club given equal financial support, and a salary cap agreed upon, clubs sign three different levels of players. Experienced professionals/Internationalists, professionals and apprentice professionals (Top players from the old amateur league should still be involved and the rest play in a second division with the incentive of gaining a professional contract). The pay for each player would depend on their value, but this should be taken into account, so certain players can continue other forms of work to a varying degree. This would also allow young apprentices to continue with University.
Top 2 teams qualify for certain European competitions
With the SRU agreeing the conditions, the top 2 teams in the Scottish professional league should be put forward for the European competitions. This would mean Scotland would still be represented in Europe.
Top half of the competition go into a play-off for a Scottish Cup at the end of the season
The amount of team s in this League needs to be thought through, as burn out for players must be considered. As the top half battle out for Cup honours, the bottom half do the same for a less prestigious prize.
Now, a lot has been left out, and there will be many people who will argue this is a ridiculous idea and not realistic. However, I believe a high quality professional domestic competition would benefit Scottish rugby hugely.
Communities would be built round the clubs again, and locals would get behind their local professional side. The clubs won’t have as much money as the 2 current pro teams, but players will get their worth and be able to make a living. At the moment the 2 pro teams do not get enough support, so why not invest back into the clubs where it all started?
There will be a salary cap for the players, but people should still be allowed to invest in the clubs. As the communities get tighter again there would be more possibility for investment and sponsorship etc, so the SRU wouldn’t be the sole financial aid for clubs.
If players want to play for Scotland they must remain in Scotland and play in the domestic league. This is done in several countries and seems to work well. If players want to leave, then they will have to forfeit their potential to play for Scotland.
This is just one option that could be looked into, and it is not a proposal or what I feel should happen, merely a thought. Any ideas on how professional rugby should continue in Scotland are welcome for discussion, and if the consensus is that all is fine and well currently, then great.
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