Stirling County RFC is disappointed with Scottish Rugby’s Club Rugby Board decision not to reinstate it’s Men’s 1st XV to the top division of amateur club rugby in Scotland, following the dissolution of the Super Series.
Partnering Scottish Rugby to create the Super Series, a key component of the elite player pathway, required considerable investment from the club. Creating a semi-professional infrastructure in amateur clubs was extremely challenging but seen as a positive step to support Scottish Rugby and rugby in Scotland more broadly to develop elite players.
It seems inconceivable that as the Premiership becomes Scotland’s foremost amateur Men’s Rugby competition; it would not include one of the country’s largest and most successful clubs and the reigning Super Series Champions. Particularly as the club supported Scottish Rugby in developing the Super Series, accepted relegation for their amateur teams as part of its creation and are now bearing the financial burden of its dissolution.
The club is confused by the inconsistencies that have been applied to each Super Series club regarding their re-integration to the amateur leagues as well as how the Board has arrived at their decision whilst working using a core principle that states, “No club to be seriously inconvenienced”.
Stirling County RFC will now turn its focus on its Men’s 1st XV returning to its rightful place at the top of the Scottish Rugby pyramid as soon as possible whilst continuing to support its back-to-back Premiership winning Women’s programme and one of the most successful talent production academies in the country.
