Scottish Rugby’S Mixed Reaction To Irb Ruling

Scottish Rugby today acknowledged that the game’s worldwide governing body, the International Rugby Board, has approved a new regulation in respect of player release. The new ruling on international player release should provide much needed clarity and consistency. However it expressed its disappointment that that new ruling reduces access to International players by Unions.Scottish Rugby today acknowledged that the game’s worldwide governing body, the International Rugby Board, has approved a new regulation in respect of player release. The new ruling on international player release should provide much needed clarity and consistency. However it expressed its disappointment that that new ruling reduces access to International players by Unions. Scottish Rugby has campaigned strongly to find support among other countries with the aim to ensure that robust and enforceable regulations governing the release of international players would be strengthened when the IRB met to discuss the issue in Dublin yesterday. Scottish Rugby’s Chief Executive Gordon McKie said: Yesterday’s decision will have the potential capacity to diminish the pre-eminence of international rugby. Our concern on this issue is one that is absolutely enshrined in the principle of best versus best and that international teams have adequate preparation time. It was important for the worldwide game, for countries like Argentina, Italy, Georgia, Fiji, Samoa and Scotland among others, that the IRB approved robust and enforceable regulations enshrining international rugby’s rights of access to exile players. I believe an opportunity has been missed as a result of yesterday’s decision by the IRB. The decision in essence means that only the rich unions, which can buy extra days, and those unions that have all their players centrally contracted will have access to their players when they want them. It is vital for all unions and for all players that access to international rugby, the pinnacle of our game, is not restricted to the cash-rich unions to ensure that the principle of best versus best is achieved. That said we now have a new IRB regulation and we will have to work within that and redouble our efforts to close the gap which exists with the wealthier nations. The inclusion of the A team in the new regulation should help us in this regard. Scotland coach Frank Hadden said: My concern is the Scotland team and our preparations for International fixtures. Clearly the consequence of this ruling is that we have not achieved the access to players that we have been at pains to secure. I am personally disappointed but will continue to communicate and work with the 17 clubs our International Squad play for to ensure that our players are prepared as best as possible for the challenges that lie ahead.