Let’s give Scottish hopefuls a chance

AT the last count, there were six players in Scotland’s Nations Cup squad who qualify to pull on the dark blue through the three-year residency rule.

Yes, it’s a two-way arrangement that works for Gregor Townsend’s team and the five South Africans and one Australian who have gained themselves a foothold on the international stage.

But six is a record high for this country and, quite frankly, a damning indictment of the SRU’s supposed pathway policy for young homegrown players.

There’s a chance that Oli Kebble, Jaco van der Walt, WP Nel, Duhan van der Merwe, Cornell du Preez and sole Aussie Sam Johnson could start or, at the very least, all be involved in the final Nations Cup game against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh’s South African prop Pierre Schoeman is waiting in the wings to qualify through the same rule next summer.

Looking abroad for talent is all well and good, but not when it’s over-used. It sends out the wrong message to young Scottish-based players who are trying to make the breakthrough.

From January 2022, the residency rule increases from three to five years. It’s a change that can’t come quickly enough and one that, hopefully, will make the SRU concentrate more on bringing their own young talents through the system.

Scotland have benefited more than most from the three-year rule but the period of qualification needed to be lengthened.

Of course, we’re not alone, and other home nations have taken full advantage. I r eland had f i ve ‘residents’ in their match-day squad to face England two weeks ago — Quinn Roux, C J Stander, Jamison Gibson-Park, Bundee Aki and James Lowe. Eddie Jones wound up the Irish by describing them as the ‘United Nations’ of rugby, but he’s used the regulations in his favour, too, with the likes of Mako Vunipola and Manu Tuilagi.

Having to wait five years to win a cap for their adopted country now may put some players off in future. But the SRU seem to have found a way round that by bringing in overseas players at a younger age, which is worrying.

It’s something New Zealand already do with players from the South Sea Islands, which has benefited them through the years but doesn’t make it right.

Earlier this year, the SRU revealed that 18-year- old South African Jordan Venter would be signing for Edinburgh. He’s due to arrive in the capital next month with a view to one day playing centre for Scotland in his early 20s. In reality, he won’t be ready until then anyway — if he is at all.

Is there not a single young Scottish centre who’s come through the club system or semi-professional Super6 set-up good enough to be handed a professional contract instead? And, if not, why not?

The SRU need to have a good hard look at their pathway system.

They’ll argue that young Scots benefit from having the likes of Nel, Van der Merwe and Johnson to pass on their knowledge.

That’s true, but wouldn’t it be better if our own youngsters could be given a chance to find their own feet?

Then they’d be able to inspire their peers i n the same way homegrown heroes like Stuart Hogg and Finn Russell have done before them.