Hawick agree to pull out of league

Published 8 Sep 2010 10:05 3 Comments

HAWICK Linden has forced clubs to think again after agreeing to pull out of National League 3 next season if faced with another trip to Orkney.

A working group has been set up, led by Borders SRU Board member, John Davidson, to look at the problem after Linden was hit with a crippling price to travel to Orkney in November.

It is costing Linden £5850 to hire a chartered flight from Edinburgh to Kirkwall and the SRU, which helps clubs with a donation of £1800, has suggested that Linden travel by minibus to Scrabster and then sail to Stromness before driving to Kirkwall.

But that, says Linden secretary, George Storey, is out of the question. "A 600-mile round trip to Scrabster, staying in a youth hostel, being away for two-and-a-half days and not accounting for food is just totally ridiculous."

Davidson said that the group hoped to have a proposal by the end of October or early November. "It is up to the clubs then to decide," he said.

And Colin Thomson, of Peebles, head of community rugby at Murrayfield, added: "Scottish Rugby offers one the of best sporting travel subsidies in Scotland. It subsidises all away travel over 200 miles, while those who are required to travel to one of the outer islands are given £1800 towards the financial outlet.

"The competition structure was agreed and voted by the clubs at various AGMs. We recognise the current financial challenges and are conducting a full review of our national league structure, during which we will engage all member clubs, including Hawick Linden."

If Linden does withdraw, they are expected to be punished by relegation to East League 1. However, Storey told the BT: "When you want to attract and keep players in the game, this is certainly not a way to do it as you are speaking of at least two days away and time of work when employment is hard to come by and you do not want to risk losing your job."

But he stressed: "I am not against Orkney, far from it. But my club has decided that if there is no reconstruction next season, or no dramatic increase in the travel allowance, we will not in any circumstances head to Orkney.

"We could not afford to pay out this money each season as our transport bill this season alone is £12,000, which is ridiculous for clubs at this level."

Linden has put on hold plans to build a gym because of the expense of the Orkney trip.

Mr Storey revealed that the RFU (England) pay fares for clubs flying to play Ramsay on the Isle of Man while the Union has an agreement of £5000 with Flybe for teams flying to Jersey.

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• 

  octo123
  Unregistered User
  Sep 9, 13:21
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  I play underwater hockey for orkney and we go down to leeds on trips and manage to get there by leaving on a friday lunch time and getting back on the sunday morning so why dont you just pull your finger out and travel.
  
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• 

  Orcadian Rugby Fan
  Unregistered User
  Sep 9, 13:47
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  We at Orkney RFC have to raise in the region of £45k every year to fund the travel of our 1st, 2nd, U18, U16 XV's and minis, but we do that and have done it for over 20 years to ensure that we get the opportunity to play at as high a level as possible. This entails our guys being away from home for at least 1 night for all of our away games, but we do it because it is what we have to do to be able to play at that level. We don't get £1800 per trip, we don't raise that money through sponsorship alone, but through the hard work of our players and committee to fund raise. I played 1st XV rugby for over 20 years for ORFC (before I got too old and fat to continue), and we still get this subject raised at least once every 2 years, but you never hear us complaining??? ONE trip per season surely cannot be out of the question surely? All it takes is a bit of forward planning and effort to fund raise. Maybe the guys have to take a half days holidays once a year and be away for a night once a year, but would you complain about doing that to tour to Dublin or Cardiff? I doubt it.
  
  I wish no ill on Hawick, but ask you to be open minded and embrace the opportunity to play in Orkney and enjoy our hospitality, all it needs is a little bit of planning and effort.
  
  P.S. I have nothing to do with the club any more and am just a rugby fan (all be-it a bit biased on this subject).
  
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• 

  The Tackle
  Unregistered User
  Sep 21, 15:57
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  Get yer Orkney OOT !
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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