LOCAL clubs have called a meeting to discuss their involvement in the National Cup after a motion to scrap this year's competition was thrown out at Scottish Rugby's AGM on Friday, writes Mark Inchley.
The majority of Borders clubs expressed support for the motion, which was proposed by retiring president George Jack, following complaints about match congestion, uncertainty over fixtures and long distances travelled to away games, but voting at Mur
rayfield swung overwhelmingly in favour of keeping the Scottish Hydro Electric Cup.
John Davidson, president of Jed-Forest, said: "I'm personally disappointed to see the motion defeated, but it was a democratic vote and you have to go with what's been decided.
"It clearly demonstrated our thinking is out of step with the rest of Scotland on this – we believe local rugby and local derbies are the way to stimulate growth in the game. That way, clubs and supporters have a full fixture list at the beginning of the season, but with the Cup you just don't know what's coming up next.
"We are going to have a meeting next week to see about making a collective decision, but at the end of the day it's up to individual clubs and, in the light of Friday's overwhelming support for the Cup, we'll have to revisit the situation.
"A lot of these other clubs come here for sevens tournaments and I hate to think of the impact it would have if we decided to pull out of the competition."
Jim Stevenson was elected president, narrowly beating Jack who was campaigning for a second term in office.
Also at Friday's AGM, Hawick Harlequins, Hawick YM and Hawick Lindean were elected to full membership.
The full article contains 288 words and appears in Southern Reporter newspaper.
