Plan is to bounce straight back up

Perthshire Rugby coach Rory McKay says the plan is to bounce straight back into the national leagues.

The Eagles suffered defeat against Dumfries Saints on Saturday and have been relegated from the BT National League 3 with three games remaining.

It’s a hard one to take for the club but McKay knows there is enough quality within the squad to make their stay in the lower divisions a short one.

“We’ll need to look at every position and see what young guys are coming through,” he told the Perthshire Advertiser.

“There is a lot of talent and ability at this club.

“This is a blip and we need to have aspirations of coming straight back up. For now we will take it on the chin and work to come back stronger.”

McKay watched his side fall to a 69-22 defeat at the hands of promotion-chasing Dumfries at the weekend.

Shire battled to the end to secure a bonus point and McKay added: “I thought it was one of our better performances and there was a real fight shown.

“But Dumfries were very good and I have to take my hat off to them. We had a much-changed team out and a few guys got a first crack at the whip.

“The remaining games are important for a different reason now. We still have three games and a chance to finish the season nicely.”