A pressure group last night called on Murrayfield chiefs to double the tally of pro-teams in a bid to boost Scotland’s big-stage rugby fortunes.
The plea was backed by former supremo Sir Ian McGeechan, who claimed Scotland will have no chance of being a true Six Nations power until they have more players to choose from.
His assertion came as Scott Johnson stepped up preparations for Saturday’s Wooden Spoon showdown with Italy in Rome.
The Change for Scottish Rugby faction believe there is no option but to revive the Borders and Caledonia regional outfits.
And McGeechan reckons priority should go to setting up a team in Aberdeen, Dundee or Perth.
He said: “In 1995, the SRU reacted by trying to create a provincial structure of four sides, based in its historic district divisions.
“It was an ambitious and well-meaning strategy, but the sums did not add up and a couple of years later they were amalgamated into two, based in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
“A little later, a Borders side was revived, but it was axed on cost grounds in 2007 so we have Scotland trying to compete at top Test level from a base of just two sides.
“In the past, we always had to punch above our weight, but this is pushing water uphill stuff.
“It is hard enough at the best of times, but with so many overseas players in the game Edinburgh routinely field a pack containing just one or two Scottish-qualified players the true scale of the problem is clear.”