THE Scottish Rugby Union has responded to criticism over its decision to drop clubs out of the Scottish Cup to ensure it can be completed by pointing out that the move was made by a committee of club representatives.
The competition, now known as the Scottish Hydro Electric Cup, has been embroiled in controversy in recent seasons with clubs threatening to withdraw because of the extra pressures it places on the league championships, and the SRU last year reque
sting it be shelved for a season to allow time to plan a new format.
Clubs voted that down as the cup has proved a major success for many across the country since its introduction in 1995-96. Debates continue over the way forward, but the recent winter freeze has brought the issue to a head with the prospect of the Murrayfield cup finals day, on 10 May, being postponed. The SRU responded by dropping St Boswells and Cumbernauld out of the cup and into a subsidiary competition this week, which brought condemnation from the two clubs.
In a statement issued yesterday, the SRU explained that the decision was taken by the Championship Committee, which is chaired by Sheriff David Mackie, and comprises an elected club representative from each strata of the domestic game, including referees, women's and schools rugby.
The SRU stated: "The decision taken ... was a difficult one to make, but one which has been taken with the best interest of all of Scottish club rugby in mind."
The union added that it had pushed clubs to fulfil fixtures midweek under floodlights, with six clubs agreeing to drop out of the cup because they could not fit it in. That left two ties – Cumbernauld v East Kilbride and St Boswells v Linlithgow – where agreement was not reached by the clubs. The committee decided to drop Cumbernauld and St Boswells, as the lower-league clubs, to the Bowl.
The SRU insisted that the cup would now be completed by its May final date, but there is little doubt that the pressure is again on to find a workable league and cup structure for the future.
