By Stockers
May 31 2002

The rumour which former COYSDC serial poster and Yaks founder member Duncan Weston (Who???....Ed) must have been dreading has been confirmed today. Talented Saints youngster Simon Webster has signed for Scottish Pro team, Edinburgh Rugby. Also confirmed as signing for Edinburgh are Duncan Hodge who has accepted a renewal of his contract and Simon Cross, the 21 year old Wasps back row player and Wasps Under 21 captain for the last three years.

Saints Academy product Webster is another young Scottish qualified player who has been lured north of the border. Is this a strategy by the SRU to have as many of their talented players as possible playing at home where the number of competitive matches are fewer and the stresses and strains on a players bodies are less than in the relentless grind of the English rugby season?

Is the pressure for success on English clubs leading to the need for instant fixes by importing stars or is England Rugby Ltd seeking to promote English talent to the exclusion of non English qualified players in order to benefit the national side? Unlikely, given the failure of the 12 club chairmen to turn up for the meeting with Clive Woodward this week.