Lineen backs players to be in pro teams after three years
Grand Slam hero Sean Lineen believes the benefits of the new Super 6 championship, which kicks off this weekend, will be seen in the next three years with a marked improvement in the development of Scottish rugby’s teenage prospects.
At the official launch of the new part-time professional league, which has been introduced to bridge the gap between the amateur and professional game, the former Scotland and Boroughmuir centre sought to assuage scepticism over the new project and called on Scotland’s rugby public to back the venture.
“It’s really important. It will take a while, it won’t be right straight away but it will give young players the chance to play regularly, put our coaches at a level where they can really challenge themselves,” said Lineen ahead of this weekend’s opening fixtures.
“The academy guys are 18, 19, 20. It will take two or three years for players to come through at the top level. Talking to the players, coaches and supporters we can’t wait to get it started now and let it grow.”
The new tournament will see franchise sides Ayrshire Bulls, Boroughmuir Bears, Heriot’s, Southern Knights, Stirling County and Watsonians Rugby go head-to-head in the first weekend of fixtures.
The tournament, which has been subject to much debate about the best way to progress thedomesticgame,kicksoffon Friday night as Boroughmuir Bears host Stirling County at Meggetland before Watsonians travel to the Greenyards to face Southern Knights on the new 3G surface at Melrose the following afternoon.
The final game of the weekend between the Ayrshire Bulls and Heriot’s takes place on Sunday at Millbrae (kickoff 2pm) and will be shown live on Scottish Rugby’s Youtube channel and the BBC website.
SRU chief executive Mark Dodson, said: “This is an exciting new era for the sport in Scotland, as we look to close the gap between our domestic and full-time professional games.
“It’s also fantastic to have the top tier of Scottish domestic rugby back on the BBC and on our own channels week in, week out, as we look to grow the visibility of the game.”