ENGLISH CLUBS SET TO WITHHOLD SCOTS

ENGLISH clubs have voted to withhold all of their Scotland international stars, including captain Greig Laidlaw, from next month’s autumn Tests unless the SRU and other unions settle what they claim to be £400,000 of outstanding injury bills. Along with Laidlaw, that could see Matt Scott, Tim Visser, Ruaridh Jackson, Sean Maitland and Moray Low miss the matches with Australia, Argentina and Georgia. Duncan Taylor and David Denton are unavailable through injury, while Nick de Luca, Kelly Brown, Blair Cowan and Greig Tonks are currently out of Vern Cotter’s plans. Last night, the SRU told Sportsmail that talks with Premiership Rugby Ltd (PRL) are ongoing, but they are hopeful the matter will be resolved before the squad meet for their initial camp next Monday. A spokesman stated: ‘We are in positive talks with PRL and expect our players to be available for the autumn Tests.’ English clubs have threatened similar action in the past, resulting in players missing training camps but not Tests. The PRL insist this latest dispute is different as it relates not to extra camps, but overdue payments for medical bills for players who suffered injuries on international duty. Italy, Samoa and Tonga are also embroiled, with the PRL voting to withhold players from those nations until their share of the bill is paid. The SRU will seek to invoke Regulation 9, which ensures clubs must release players for international windows. But a PRL spokesman said: ‘Clubs voted unanimously to withdraw their players from the Scotland, Samoa, Tonga and Italy squads for the November Tests unless outstanding injury liabilities are settled. ‘World Rugby regulations make the union responsible for “losses and expenses incurred as a result of injuries sustained on international duty”. ‘However, a number of players have returned injured to our clubs from Test duty in recent seasons and the clubs have been left to pay the bills. ‘We have written to all four unions and we would implore them to continue the dialogue before the squads assemble.’ Cotter will tomorrow name his final autumn Test squad before he leaves at the end of the season. They are due to assemble for a camp next week, before meeting up on Monday November 7 for matches with Australia (Nov 12), Argentina (Nov 19) and Georgia (Nov 26). World Rugby last night declined to comment.