Rugby: Gilbert vows borders will stay true to roots
New Zealand rugby guru Tony Gilbert yesterday began work building Scotland’s third professional team with a pledge not to turn the squad into a commune of his countrymen.
Gilbert spoke out to allay fears of the locals in the Borders who feared his first priority would be to import a spate of players from his homeland and elsewhere in the southern hemisphere.
He declared: ‘‘This will be a Borders team and not a New Zealand team or a South African or a team from anywhere else in the world.
‘‘The more Borders players in the squad, the bigger the identity we will have in the community.
‘‘Initially we want to put as strong a team on the paddock as possible and if that includes outsiders then so be it.
‘‘But the intent is to produce a squad with as many local players as possible, for the good of ourselves and for the whole of Scottish rugby.’’
Gilbert confirmed that Newcastle Falcons Test trio Gary Armstrong, Doddie Weir and George Graham had completed their signings and said more experienced campaigners would follow.
‘‘It would be very hard to put together a competitive team without six or seven hard-nosed pros like them.
‘‘We will be looking to sign others who not only understand the game at this level, but who are also still passionate about it,’’ he said.
‘‘I have spoken to several high profile players. Some have gone away and some are dangling. Players will only come to us if they think it is good for them.’’
Gilbert insisted he had no plans to use his job as a springboard back to the international scene.
He said: ‘‘I am very keen on the business of winning and a big part of the attraction of coming to the Borders is the challenge of building a winning team from scratch.
‘‘It was an attractive challenge for me personally and I just want to get on with that challenge now.
‘‘I want to create a team with a desire to win by consistently performing to a high standard week-in and week-out.’’
