Rugby: Hamilton boss calls on SRU to introduce play-offs

Jul 17 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON Rugby Club boss Ian Morrison believes Scottish Rugby Union bosses should introduce play-offs to the league structure in season 2009-10.

Morrison is considering putting a proposal forward next summer, and hopes it will be taken on board, bringing the club season in line with others around the world.

The Laigh Bent manager reckons club seasons finish up an anti-climax for most sides, and that too many know whether promotion or relegation is a concern by December.

He said: “Every other country in the world has a play-off system, and because we don’t we don’t have a straightforward league season.

“By December four or five teams know they can’t go up or down, there’s no money in cup competitions, and although you get some nice games against small teams, really they’re mismatches.

“Personally, I would like to move in a different direction by having the climax at the end of the season.

“Don’t get me wrong, I don’t envy the SRU their job, but a play-off idea keeps everybody totally focused until the end of the season.

“If I’m not involved in relegation or promotion by March it’s a total anti-climax, and with nothing to play for the players can go totally off the boil, which carries on into the Sevens season.

“I would consider putting play-offs forward for next season as an option, and I hope they follow the example of New Zealand.”

Morrison was speaking after the SRU announced fixture changes for season 2008-09.

As a result of the number of cup and league fixtures, amendments have been made, including:

lLeague and cup fixtures being scheduled throughout the season to give greater continuity to the programme;

lFixtures cannot kick-off later than two-and-a-half hours before an international match, whether they are league or cup games;

lPremier Division clubs that qualify for the latter stages of cup competitions in April, but are involved in Sevens tournaments on Saturdays, will play fixtures on Friday evenings or Sundays by “gentlemen’s” agreement;

lCup finals will be scheduled for Sunday, May 10, to avoid clashes with various club Sevens tournaments on the previous day.

A revised fixture list has been issued to all clubs. Although there is no change to the order of fixtures, some dates in the second half of the season have been altered to accommodate the new structure.

Morrison believes that ensuring club matches cannot kick-off less than two-and-a-half hours before international matches doesn’t go far enough, and that it should be a day off.

He said: “The second half of the season is traditionally fragmented with home internationals on, and it is ludicrous to play games on these days.

“Last season we were drawn against Heriot’s on the day Scotland played down in England, and I wasn’t paying enough attention, thinking they wouldn’t play cup games that weekend.

“I ended up losing my entire back division, who were all down south for the game, and we were trounced.

“The SRU are running the risk of taking the core out of rugby – the whole point of these games is so that people can go on a tour of Wales, Ireland, or wherever.”

The first-round draw for the Scottish Hydro Electric Cup competitions took place on Friday. Fixtures which affect Lanarkshire clubs:

West Region Cup:

Lanark v Strathclyde University; Uddingston v Oban Lorne; Clydebank v Strathaven; Cumbernauld v Clydesdale.

Ties to be played on Saturday, November 8.

Second round ties, to be played on Saturday, November 22:

Cumbernauld or Clydesdale v Uddingston or Oban Lorne; Lanark or Strathclyde University v Shawlands FP or Strathendrick; Loch Lomond or Birkmyre v Clydebank or Strathaven.