The auld lack-of-alliance

Experienced players like Glasgow's David Hilton have not helped the Scots on trips to Wales

After eight games between Welsh and Scottish clubs this season and eight - mostly convincing - home victories, questions must be asked as to whether the league is working.

The Welsh-Scottish League was the response of the respective unions to the need for regular games of a high standard for their leading clubs.

Given the introverted look of the English clubs the unions were thrown into their Celtic grand alliance, set to be expanded next year when Ireland join.

For all the bonhomie displayed on Six Nations days, though, the idea of common Celtic interests between Wales and Scotland has never rested on solid ground.

Before last season's experimental league the clubs from each land worked about as closely together as the Welsh and Scottish assemblies.

History repeating

There are strong historical and geographical reasons for the feeling of mutual distance and disinterest.

Even in the middle ages tentative alliances were tried between the native rulers of Wales and Scotland, keen to find support against the advances of the kings of England.

These moves never came to anything - the physical obstacles were too great.

Faced with a long land journey over treacherous terrain or a dangerous sea passage, diplomatic manoeuvres soon petered out.

It is easy to forget how formidable the distances involved remain, even when the team transport is allowed to top up its fuel tank.

Edinburgh Reivers coach Nick Oswald said his team spent six hours travelling when they flew down to lose to Bridgend.

If this is bad enough, they can only afford to fly to three or four of their 10 Welsh fixtures - for the rest they will face the long, cramped coach trip down the M1.

Cross Keys

The Reivers are well-funded by the SRU and a number of other sources. Compare their position to that of a club like Cross Keys.

The Keys are a semi-professional club with very limited finances. Every one of their journeys north will be by coach, and even then some of their players will be missing as they cannot take the time off work.

We tend to see today's rugby players like footballers - professional sportsmen who should devote their lives to the game.

But the contrasts between the two sports are striking and to expect such a commitment to a professional league in today's rugby world is unrealistic.

The Welsh-Scottish League is a stop-gap.

God knows it's better than the Welsh league of two seasons ago, filled out by farcical Challenge Trophy fixtures.

Look to the past

For long-term solutions the unions should consider more historical lessons, though.

England was forced to sit up and take notice of the Celts whenever they expanded their alliances to include France.

In rugby, the success of the Heineken European Cup has shown what can be achieved.

At the highest levels of the club game in Wales, Scotland and Ireland, a properly funded, fully professional European league has to be the ultimate goal.

A European equivalent of the Super 12 is the best chance of raising standards in the northern hemisphere.

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