Rule change could be counterproductive

Ialways think it’s a shame when representing your country at international sport starts to become complicated. Whenever I hear about decisions like the Welsh Rugby Union’s this week, my first thoughts are with the players. A rule change has been made which means that anybody who decides to play their club rugby outside of Wales will have to have earned 60 caps already to be eligible to wear the famous red and white.

Rugby seems to impose these sorts of restrictions more than most sports, and there are some nations who don’t even consider players for selection who are playing outwith their own nation.

You can understand the WRU’S motivation – they want to ensure that their clubs are successful and they want control over their best players. But what about the players?

You have a short career and you want to make sure you end up being the best athlete you can be.

Thankfully Scottish curling don’t look at it the same way.

Yes, we have a couple of great events like the Glynhill Ladies and Intu Braehead and Perth Ladies, which we will always try to support – but the basic facts are that we have to travel to get the best ice, the best crowds, the best opposition and the best chance to improve.

We have a greater chance of winning medals for our country by doing that, and who is to say that the Welsh rugby team won’t be better because of the experience some of their players get from playing abroad?

I always think international sport should be about the best v the best.

We should try to stay as close to that as possible.

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It isn’t a good sign that the chief executive of Scottish Golf is giving up his job for the equivalent post at Scottish Tennis

Preparations ramp up

It’s another two-week stay in Canada for us just now, with this week’s first event in a place called Portage.

We’ve got almost our full back-up team with us.

Kate, our dynamics, coach has flown over, and so has Tony, our technical coach.

Glenn Howard will be around for the first tournament as well.

He’ll be in a good mood because his own team reached the final of the event they were competing in at the weekend.

Kelly, our alternate, lives in Canada so for obvious reasons she’s quite happy when we’re over here.

She will be with us for every competition through to the Olympic Games.

It’s a close-run thing whether the players are outnumbering the backroom team or the other way around.

It is important, though, because the more events we can replicate the feel of having the staff who will be at Pyeonghchang, the better.

Is tennis Scotland’s new golf?

It isn’t a good sign that the chief executive of Scottish Golf is giving up his job for the equivalent post at Scottish Tennis.

The idea of that happening pre-andy Murray would have been unthinkable.

Is tennis now becoming the new golf in Scotland?

Stability at the top of a sport is usually a good thing, and hopefully golf can get that.

The timing hasn’t been great, with a new strategy in the pipeline.

It could be worse, though – British Bobsleigh have lost their head man five months before an Olympics.

Picture: Getty. Anybody who decides to play their club rugby outside of Wales will need to have earned 60 caps already to be eligible to wear the red and white – a rule change that could backfire.