LINEEN SWEET ON SUPER6

GRAND SLAM legend Sean Lineen believes the new SRU semi-professional league will lead to a rich dividend of young talent for the Scotland international team. The Fosroc Super6, which kicks off at the weekend, is designed to bridge the gap between amateur rugby and the professional game. The new league set-up will include 30 SRU youth academy players plus ex-professionals such as Scotland international prop Gordon Reid, who has signed for Ayrshire Bulls. SRU academy chief Lineen has been tasked with overseeing player development, as well as mentoring the full-time coaches at the six teams. ‘The academy guys involved are 18, 19, 20 years old and I would say it will take two or three years for players to come through to the top level,’ said Lineen. ‘Making sure these young academy lads — some of whom were among the best players under the previous system — are playing within six teams rather than ten as they used to will give them more competition week in, week out and they will be playing at a higher standard. They will be under the spotlight and be more accountable. These games matter.’ The opening league game is between Boroughmuir Bears and Stirling County at Meggetland on Friday evening. Saturday’s fixture is Southern Knights against Watsonians at the Greenyards with Ayrshire Bulls taking on Heriot’s at Millbrae on the Sunday. ‘It will put our coaches at a level where they can really challenge themselves,’ said Lineen.