Eddie not fazed by prospect of Heineken Cup qualification

Senior Sports Writer

Thursday 20 September 2012

As the debate over the future of the Heineken Cup continues, one of Glasgow Warriors' stalwarts admits it would be good for Scotland's professional teams to be forced to compete for places in the tournament.

James Eddie believes competition for Heineken Cup places would be healthy for Glasgow and Edinburgh. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA

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Kevin Ferrie

Their automatic qualification for the European game's most prestigious tournament has been a major bone of contention with English and French clubs for many years while there is also a view that it has done the Scottish clubs no good, since they have never had to fight for a place at the top table.

Gregor Townsend, Warriors' head coach, was guarded over his views on the subject, although he did admit to understanding why there was resentment to Scotland's protected position among other countries, before saying he hoped there would be no changes "to the detriment of the tournament".James Eddie, the Warriors flanker, however, is among those who believe that streamlining the Heineken Cup could make it even better and would be healthy for both his club and Edinburgh. "Yes, competition is good, so it will be good for us," he said. "If we do have to qualify then I hope we get results on the pitch and will be in there."That sort of combative attitude has made Eddie a firm favourite with Warriors supporters and he also admitted yesterday to recognising, on a personal level, the importance of avoiding any sort of complacency of mindset.He did so from the perspective of having experienced his rugby career threatened 18 months ago when he was cut from the Warriors squad and had to accept a Scotland Sevens contract to remain a full-time professional.His response to that has earned him a new two-year deal and, now 27, he sees his experience as salutary. "I had a wee scare and that made me think a lot; you take things for granted sometimes," he admitted. "It really made me think this is a dream job we have got and I want to make the most of it. I feel that being given another lifeline, I want to make the most of it."We need to deliver on the pitch and set an example out there and hopefully the union will continue to back us as well they have been doing."That is all the more so now that they are being given a new level of support from the Scottish Rugby Union whsich means that, even though it is a real blow when a player of the stature of Chris Cusiter suffers the sort of injury he received in Swansea on Friday, it should not be as devastating as it would have been in previous seasons.After last week's win away to Ospreys, the fulcrum of the side has had to be overhauled, yet the newly created depth of the squad means there is still a reassuringly familiar and solid look to the component parts. Eddie is the only back-row player who keeps his place, with John Barclay switching to openside flanker to accommodate Ryan Wilson's return at No.8 and allow the buzz bomb Chris Fusaro to be rested.The scrum-half role is, meanwhile, filled by Henry Pyrgos, who played a great deal when Cusiter was on Test duty last season and, having also started the opening match of this season in Ulster, is itching to take advantage of the extended chance that seems sure to be provided by what is expected to be the long-term absence of the internationalist.Moray Low has recovered from a calf strain to form an all-international front row with Ryan Grant and Dougie Hall while Sean Lamont's return on the wing is the only other change to the team which produced Townsend's first win in six matches in charge in Wales last week.That victory undid some of the damage caused by the defeat at what was supposed to be a house-warming party against the Scarlets a fortnight ago but, while acknowledging it is important to register a first win at their new home, Townsend admits it could be tough against Connacht."We owe the supporters a victory," he said. "However, we know it will be very tough against Connacht, who we have only beaten once on the last four occasions and who are playing well. They have won away from home already this year and were in the game against Scarlets and pushing for a score when they got an interception at the end. The final score did not really reflect the possession and domination they had in that game."* Rugby Sevens will begin its four-year Olympic cycle towards Rio 2016 with a new qualification route into the HSBC World Series.The new season kicks off on Australia's Gold Coast next month, with the number of core teams having already increased from 12 to 15 after Canada, Portugal and Spain all qualified. At the end of this season, promotion and relegation will come into effect.The Hong Kong Sevens in March next year will feature an increase from 24 to 28 teams, with the current 15 core countries – they include England, Wales, Scotland, New Zealand, Fiji and Australia – joined by the Asia Sevens Series champions to contest the Hong Kong title. In a second competition, 12 nations will compete for places at the core team qualifying final in London two months later.The Twickenham event will also stage two tournaments, with the top 12-ranked countries at that stage contesting the main silverware and three remaining core teams battling it out alongside five pre-qualified teams from Hong Kong for three available core slots for 2013/14."As we enter our first four-year Olympic cycle for rugby sevens and build towards Rio 2016, it is important that the opportunity exists for all nations to progress to series core team status if they are good enough," said Bernard Lapasset, chairman of the International Rugby Board.

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Eddie not fazed by prospect of Heineken Cup qualification

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