Glasgow trip up against Toulouse in France
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Iain Morrison, writing in The Scotsman, believes the failures in Europe of Edinburgh and Glasgow is due to lack of funding from the governing body.
“Fans of Scotland's two pro teams are beginning to know what Napoleon felt like on the long retreat from Moscow, as yet another European campaign ends in humiliating retreat in a snow-bound landscape before Christmas is properly upon us.
Even before yesterday's match Glasgow had already lost at home to Toulouse and Edinburgh were second best in their opening three matches, so the chance of either Scots side qualifying for so much as the Amlin Cup is about as likely as Prince Charles joining the student protesters in Parliament Square. It's a nice thought but it's just not going to happen.
If there is fault it lies not necessarily with the clubs, who still claim the odd top-class scalp for their mantelpiece, but with the governing body which has failed to put in place the financial structures to allow Edinburgh and Glasgow to hold on to their best players. Only that way can they compete with a mature and experienced group rather than having to rebuild the squad each and every season.
The funding gap with most of the Heineken opposition is substantial and it can grow to spectacular widths against the richest of the French clubs. Edinburgh's chairman Jim Calder sees no obvious and immediate solution to the problem of our pro teams' lack of progress in Europe, but he has started one initiative to raise some much-needed investment for the capital club.”
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