Attempted player breakaway leaves Murrayfield Wanderers' future in doubt

The future of Murrayfield Wanderers as Scotland's leading women's rugby club remains clouded in doubt this week after an attempted breakaway by a raft of its leading players left them unable to field a team for their opening Tennent's Women's Premier League match at home to Cartha QP on Sunday.
Murrayfield Wanderers could not fulfil their opening league fixture. Pic: SNSMurrayfield Wanderers could not fulfil their opening league fixture. Pic: SNS
Murrayfield Wanderers could not fulfil their opening league fixture. Pic: SNS

It is understood that, after the SRU evicted Murrayfield Wanderers RFC from its long-time home on the back pitches of the international stadium in the summer, a number of players are seeking to leave and set up a new team within the Heriot’s organisation based at Inverleith.

The SRU’s position is that Murrayfield Wanderers are the team registered to compete in this season’s league and cup competitions. A meeting is due to be held on Wednesday on the situation, with 12-time Sarah Beaney Cup winners Wanderers due to face Stewartry away on Sunday. There was no representative from Wanderers at Monday’s official Tennent’s Leagues launch.

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The Evening News understands that there is significant disappointment from Murrayfield Wanderers, who are set to play at Roseburn Park this season, over the way what one source described as a “unilateral declaration of independence” has been handled and the potential implications in terms of funding for the club if it no longer has a top female team. The club intends to continue running girls age grade sides.

If the breakaway does go ahead there will be debate over which league any new entity plays in.