Scottish Rugby Union Sets Special General Meeting For Oct. 28

The Scottish Rugby Union has called a special general meeting of clubs for Oct. 28, where it will hope to gain the two-thirds majority required which would allow CEO Mark Dodson his wish "to sell one of both of the pro teams, or parts thereof," according to Iain Morrison of the SCOTSMAN. The Murrayfield hierarchy "is currently exploring ways of raising revenue," including placing a Pro12 franchise in the U.S., in order to compete with "the wages on offer at the biggest French and English clubs." The twin pro teams currently cost the SRU in the region of £14M-£15M ($18-$19.4M) per annum "when everything is included and the governing body is keen to keep those costs down" in the face of spiraling wage inflation with the sports generated by multi-millionaire club owners like Mourad Boudjellal, who has "ploughed significant sums into his beloved Toulon, although he recently threatened to walk away" (SCOTSMAN, 9/28).