Ross Sutherland Rugby Club happy with progress on new clubhouse
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Although the domestic rugby season has been cancelled, Ross Sutherland continue to make progress on their new clubhouse.
It was confirmed by Scottish Rugby last week that the 2020/21 competitive season would not go ahead, in a move that was disappointing, but understood by most.
The Stags have been able to turn their attention to off-field matters in the meantime though, as their new home in Invergordon begins to take shape.
It has been a long-running project for the Naval Grounds outfit, but after lengthy delays due to Covid-19 there finally seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel.
“We’re getting there – by the end of this week we’ll certainly have it wind and water-tight,” club president John Scott explained.
“We’ve almost got windows in, and the roof is on.
“People will start to see a big difference, because we’re pushing on.
“Hopefully in February or March we’ll get it finished off, but we’re not going to have any games to worry about unfortunately.
“It would have been frustrating if we didn’t have the clubhouse ready and rugby was happening again, so in many ways it’s actually worked out okay.”
Last week’s announcement by the SRU means that clubs in the Highlands and Islands face the prospect of no competitive rugby until next August, despite being in Tier One as things stand.
Scott, however, would like to enter discussions with other clubs and the governing body to see if some form of regional competition can be arranged for an earlier date next year.
“The one thing we would like to do fairly soon is sit down with the SRU and other clubs in the Highlands and Islands and consider the possibility of some sort of summer season,” he said.
“We can look at, for example, playing rugby starting in April running through to late-July or August, then have a break before getting back into a normal season.
“For a number of years now in the north, some of us have asked the question of what summer rugby would look like.
“Covid has given us the opportunity to potentially look at this.
“I know it’s a different sport, but there is plenty of football being played and if we can’t find a way of playing rugby up here in Level One, it would be good to get something done.”
