Stirling raging at league rejig snub
Raging Stirling County chiefs have hit out at reorganisation plans from Scottish Rugby which will see the club’s first XV remain outside of the top division.
The Bridgehaugh club are Super Series champions thanks to the efforts of Stirling Wolves, but many of those Wolves players will face the prospect of pitching up in Scottish club’s rugby second tier – National One.
Following the dissolution of the Super Series format from the conclusion of the upcoming Sprint Series,scottish Rugby began a consultation over where to put the six clubs currently with sides in the competition.
The final plans will see the Premiership take part with 12 clubs, with Heriot’s and Ayr, whose club XVS already compete in the Premiership, joined by Melrose and Watsonians. But both
Stirling County and Boroughmuir will only be brought up one level into National One, facing a fight to regain Premiership status.
The news attracted fury from County, who issued a statement questioning the rationale of the decision. It said: “Partnering Scottish Rugby to create the Super Series, a key component of the elite player pathway, required considerable investment from the club. Creating a semi-professional infrastructure in amateur clubs was extremely challenging but seen as a positive step to support Scottish Rugby and rugby in Scotland more broadly to develop elite players.
“It seems inconceivable that as the Premiership becomes Scotland’s foremost amateur men’s rugby competition; it would not include one of the country’s largest and most successful clubs and the reigning Super Series Champions. Particularly as the club supported Scottish Rugby in developing the Super Series, accepted relegation for their amateur teams and are now bearing the financial burden of its dissolution.
“The club is confused by the inconsistencies as well as how the board has arrived at their decision whilst working using a core principle that states, “no club to be seriously inconvenienced”.
“Stirling County RFC will now turn its focus on its Men’s 1st XV returning to its rightful place at the top of the Scottish Rugby pyramid whilst continuing to support its back-to-back Premiership winning women’s programme and one of the most successful academies in the country.”