Rugby chief playing a high-stakes game

Mark Dodson, CEO of Scottish Rugby, had his contract extended this week to 2023.

In many respects, he deserves this contract extension, given Scottish Rugby has increased its turnover and reduced its debt under his leadership and he has established an Academy system to provide proper pathways for players into the pro game.

He and his bosses at Murrayfield will be very pleased with this, given the parlous state the game was in when Dodson arrived.

Also this week, it was announced 12 teams would bid for Super 6 franchises – Dodson’s initiative to bridge the gap between professional and amateur rugby.

This could be the final nail in the coffin of club rugby in Scotland if it doesn’t work.

Dodson is playing a high-stakes game and the last person who did this was Jim Telfer, who oversaw the transition from the amateur game to professional rugby in 1995.

Telfer’s idea was to create four professional teams in Scotland and strip the leading clubs of their best players to fill the playing squads.

It all but destroyed the clubs, and the fans, who at the time were filling stands across the country, gave up following.

They had no desire to watch professional teams with no identity, nor did they want to watch club teams who had been shorn of their best players.

Edinburgh are still struggling to fill the ground at home matches 23 years on. The Super 6 runs the same risks.

Twelve clubs have bid for franchises – all the Premiership clubs, with the exception of Marr, have been joined by Edinburgh Academicals, Dundee High School FPS and Gala from National League One.

Within the clubs the debate has not only been about whether they should bid for a franchise, but also what are the consequences of not bidding.

This latter point may have forced many clubs to submit their bid, rather than a clear desire to be part of semi-professional rugby.

To receive 12 bids may delight Dodson, but the motivation behind the submissions may not be aligned to what the CEO had hoped for.

The real issue is what will happen to the clubs who are successful and those who are not.

Rival club supporters are unlikely to watch a league which, potentially, will be repetitious and dull, with teams filled with “hired hands” rather than players who have been brought up understanding a club ethos and culture.

And, in the amateur game below the Super 6? Only time will tell.

For all of his good work, Dodson is betting all his chips on black – I hope, for the sake of the game, he is right.

This could be the final nail in the coffin of Scottish club rugby