The News Review:
- Edinburgh assured of Heineken Cup slot for five years
- Preview: Edinburgh v Glasgow
- Scarlets leave Ospreys in a flap
Edinburgh assured of Heineken Cup slot for five years
Edinburgh Evening News – Dec 27, 2007
Fears had existed that, with the demise of the Borders, representation would be cut proportionately, leaving one of the two remaining Scottish sides out in the cold so far as the principal tournament was concerned. However, a source said: “The European monies that underpin the SRU’s policy of two centrally-run teams are safe after they brokered an agreement that they would continue to play in the Heineken Cup. “Entry to the Heineken Cup is believed to be worth over £2million to each team by the time television fees and sponsorship are taken into account. The source added: “The SRU have received a sympathetic ear in pleading the case that European rugby needs to expand and not contract any further. They also cited a precedent set in Wales where all the regional teams are in the Heineken Cup. “However, this does beg the question of what, if anything, has been pledged in return to the powerful French and English clubs who generate much of the viewing appeal and who have expressed concerns that their involvement is too limited?”Confirmation that Scotland will continue to have two teams in the Heineken Cup is expected next month when tournament directors stage their next meeting. Once this is known, Edinburgh’s owners will be in a stronger position to commit to a smaller stadium widely acknowledged as essential to the development of the team while stemming a player exodus encouraging more to follow the example of Test scrum half Mike Blair who has just extended his contract in the Capital.
Preview: Edinburgh v Glasgow
Planet Rugby – Dec 27, 2007
The first-ever meeting between the two teams took place 135 years ago – making the rivalry older than Scottish football’s ‘Old Firm’ derby – and to commemorate the event the intercity cup has been resurrected. And Edinburgh’s bid to not only chalk up an aggregate head-start on neighbours Glasgow for the trophy, but to also finish 2007 as Scotland’s top side has been boosted by the return of Callam, Kerr and Southwell. Callam missed Edinburgh’s heroic victory over Leinster in the Heineken Cup because of a neck injury, but has been handed the number eight shirt for the visit of Glasgow. In an unchanged backline, Ben Cairns, who scored a try against Leinster, retains the number 15 shirt and he revealed he is fully focused on helping Edinburgh win; even though he made his professional debut while on loan at Glasgow almost two years ago. The versatile back claims the short time he spent at Glasgow in January 2006 was beneficial to his overall development, but he is adamant he is very much Edinburgh through and through. “There are no mixed emotions about his game at all; I was brought up in Edinburgh and I’m Edinburgh through and through,” said Cairns. “But it just so happened that Glasgow needed a centre and asked for me to go through which was good because at the time I needed the experience.
Scarlets leave Ospreys in a flap
Planet Rugby – Dec 27, 2007
As for the Scarlets, following their European tribulations, this morale-boosting victory revitalises their league challenge going into the new year with just four points separating them from leaders Leinster with a game in hand. Both sides had gone into the match on the back of contrasting fortunes on the European front. The Scarlets were desperate for any sort of victory after four straight defeats in the Heineken Cup, while the Ospreys were looking to maintain their impressive momentum of recent weeks. Yet Jones’ star-studded squad have struggled in the defence of their Magners League crown this season and with just two wins from in the competition this season they went into the match with their title hopes hanging by a thread. It all made for a charged atmosphere in front of a full house at Stradey and the promised fireworks appeared from the start when former Scarlets favourite Mike Phillips was sin-binned inside two minutes. Phillips was shown yellow for a late challenge on Wales colleague Mark Jones and it gifted the Scarlets all the early momentum. However, a pumped up home side failed to take advantage.