Biggar Rugby Club hope appeal to SRU against title win wipeout could be held within six weeks

Biggar Rugby Club top brass hope the summit which could see them named champions and seal promotion to the elite league will be held within six weeks of their appeal letter’s imminent submission.
By Craig Goldthorp
Published 29th May 2020, 10:33 BST
Updated 29th May 2020, 10:34 BST
Biggar Rugby Club celebrate winning the 2019-20 National Division 1 two games early back in March. The triumph was subsequently rescinded but an upcoming SGM to appeal this decision will likely be attended by Biggar RFC president Johnny Bogle (pictured 1st right)Biggar Rugby Club celebrate winning the 2019-20 National Division 1 two games early back in March. The triumph was subsequently rescinded but an upcoming SGM to appeal this decision will likely be attended by Biggar RFC president Johnny Bogle (pictured 1st right)
Biggar Rugby Club celebrate winning the 2019-20 National Division 1 two games early back in March. The triumph was subsequently rescinded but an upcoming SGM to appeal this decision will likely be attended by Biggar RFC president Johnny Bogle (pictured 1st right)

The Hartreemill men – denied the Tennent’s National Division 1 crown and ascention to the Premiership after the coronavirus-hit 2019-2020 campaign was declared null and void by the SRU – now have the support of enough clubs (32) to trigger a Special General Meeting (SGM) with the governing body, potentially by mid-July.

Spearheading the appeal campaign is Biggar RFC secretary Mike Booth, who told the Carluke and Lanark Gazette: “If I put this letter in, they (the SRU) have six weeks to call the SGM, which would force their hand.

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“This is our motion – seconded by Dalkeith Rugby Club (stripped of the 2019-20 East Division 3 title).

“I have to believe that I can get this overturned in our favour otherwise it’s pointless me doing it. The SGM really is our last resort, not something we wanted to go to.

“I hope the SRU will be fair and discuss this with us and that we will be able to get a meaningful SGM.”

Mike is keen to attend the SGM – most likely with Biggar RFC president Johnny Bogle – but it is unclear whether this meeting of member club representatives and the SRU council would be in person at Murrayfield or via video link.

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Mike said there could be an option to hold the SGM straight after the SRU’s AGM – no date of which has yet been set – had been concluded.

“I would like to go because it would be our chance to speak face to face with the other clubs and hopefully garner more support than the 32 we would need to get this through,” he added.

Mike, heartened by the fact that Biggar’s plight was raised last week at the first SRU council meeting since the Covid-19 shutdown, is frustrated at being unable to obtain exact figures from the SRU revealing how many clubs backed his side’s campaign in a recent consultation on the vote.

All he knew was that “around 50 per cent” had supported them.

“I would have so much more confidence if I had these figures,” Mike said.