So

Most professional rugby players will have packed their bags this week to head off for a well-earned break after a long, gruelling season.

Of course, that excludes the players from Leinster and Scarlets who battled out the Pro14 Final and Saracens and Exeter who played in the Premiership Final yesterday.

And not forgetting those players selected for the various summer tours who don’t have much of a break. But apart from them . . . Scottish rugby has had a reasonably good year. Gregor Townsend’s transition to the top job has gone reasonably well and he has a few highlights that he can look back on with great pride and pleasure.

The Calcutta Cup victory must top the list, closely followed by the demolition of Australia in the autumn which backed up a great victory on tour in the summer against the same opponents.

On the flipside, Townsend will still rue the opening match against Wales where he can reflect on some of his selection decisions, but also regret how his players simply didn’t turn up.

The loss on the summer tour of Fiji will also rankle, but the one that got away was the game against the All Blacks, a highly charged evening at Murrayfield with not a dry eye in the house when Doddie Weir, diagnosed with MND, delivered the match ball.

Townsend will recognise the contribution of Finn Russell – both when Scotland do well and not so well – as being key to the success of his team.

The summer tour to the Americas will be an important proving ground for some who could challenge Russell for his place if he cannot be more consistent. A backup alternative to Russell is essential if Scotland are to kick on and be real challengers in the Rugby World Cup in Japan next year.

The professional teams have also had up and down seasons. Glasgow started at pace, but when push came to shove – in both European competition and in the closing stages of the Pro14 – they were found wanting. Dave Rennie will want to correct that.

On the east coast, Richard Cockerill has overseen a rejuvenation in Edinburgh’s fortunes. A change of culture and attitude in the camp has been central to this – as Townsend orchestrated when he was at Glasgow.

Having two strong Scottish teams is critical to the success of the international game so Cockerill is earning his pay.

The one dark cloud on the horizon is Mark Dodson’s Super Six idea which could be the making or breaking of the club game. There is a year to wait for that, so the jury remains out for now.

Hopefully there will be enough cheer elsewhere in the next 12 months.

A backup to Russell is essential if Scots are to kick on at World Cup