SRU lodge formal complaint over player no-show
September 22 2008
Scottish Rugby has made a formal complaint to the International Rugby Board after the national team's English-based players were refused permission to attend Monday's training session at Murrayfield.
Premier Rugby, the umbrella organisation representing Guinness Premiership clubs, instructed each of their teams not to release players for what was Scotland's first get-together of the new season.
The snub has sparked a conflict Head Coach Frank Hadden had hoped to avoid after recently embarking on a bridge-building tour of foreign clubs with Scotland players in their squads.
Hadden appeared to be bracing himself for the absence of some of his exiled stars by a naming a bumper 50-man squad last week for the training session.
But he was clearly not prepared for the blanket ban which has transpired.
The 10 Premiership players missing were Alasdair Strokosch, Alasdair Dickinson, Rory Lawson and Scott Lawson (all Gloucester), Sean Lamont and Euan Murray (both Northampton), Rory Lamont and Jason White (both Sale), Gordon Ross (Saracens) and Stephen Jones (Newcastle).
"We provided these clubs with ample notice of this short training camp and usual custom and practice has resulted in our England-based players being made available to Scotland for training camps," a Scottish Rugby spokesman said.
"We are obviously concerned that our tried and tested relationship with these English clubs has been upset by the sudden intervention of Premier Rugby and as a result of today's non-appearance of so many players, we have made formal representation to the IRB, the world's governing body, to resolve this matter."
Scottish Rugby have urged the IRB to resolve the matter before their final preparations begin for the November Tests against New Zealand, South Africa and Canada.
The results of these matches will determine Scotland's ranking going into the draw for the 2011 World Cup.
"It is essential that our national squad players are suitably prepared for these games and we will be seeking further information from the IRB to ensure that Scotland has a clear understanding of the IRB's regulations governing player release for international matches and preparation," the spokesman added.
"The IRB's first port of call is the RFU, the governing body of the game in England, and we await the outcome of their discussions with interest."
Hadden has been at pains to emphasise the importance of securing more preparation time with his players, and had been hoping to secure their release two weeks before every Test match.
England counterpart Martin Johnson is able to do just that as the Rugby Football Union pay Premiership clubs for the privilege.
That also applies to training get-togethers, whereas there is no such agreement with Scotland.
Indeed, it also emerged on Monday that Hadden would not be given the access he craves prior to Test matches, with Premier Rugby confirming they would not budge from a five-day release period.
"We are sticking to those release periods and not releasing outside of those periods," a spokesman said.
"I think we have to be consistent that this is the state of affairs, not just for Scotland. You can imagine similar representation will come from the Irish, the Welsh, the Italians and so forth.
"There will be some cases where one club could lose one player but another could lose six or seven players."
As well as the absence of the English-based players, Glasgow Warriors hooker Fergus Thomson also missed the gathering as he was seeing a specialist with regard to a shoulder injury.
Meanwhile, Hadden confirmed Edinburgh Head Coach Andy Robinson and Glasgow counterpart Sean Lineen would be involved in Scotland selection for the November Test matches.
"I believe it's important that the men who see the players on a daily basis are involved in selection," Hadden - whose new assistants, Mike Brewer and Graham Steadman, will also work closely with both clubs - said.
"I will also be tapping into Sean's intimate knowledge of New Zealand rugby and making use of his experience in that regard during the autumn Tests.
"Sean will also be involved as a specialist coach, much like Duncan Hodge our kicking analyst, during the autumn games."