HELENSBURGH Rugby Club’s president says he’s “quietly optimistic” for the 2021-22 campaign after the game’s governing body in Scotland announced plans to proceed “as normal” with the new season.

John Cashmore spoke to the Advertiser after Scottish Rugby confirmed that it intends to press ahead with a national league structure, with promotion and relegation, beginning in September – a move backed by almost two-thirds of the country’s clubs and schools.

In a survey which attracted 252 responses, 63 per cent of clubs and schools indicated they supported going ahead with a national league, with the rest saying they would prefer a regional structure with no promotion or relegation.

And after several seasons in which Helensburgh have struggled to attract enough players for a competitive team on the pitch – or indeed, on one or two occasions, to get enough players to form a team at all – the Burgh president says he’s been encouraged by the number of players who are already taking part in twice-weekly training sessions.

“We’ll continue to train through June and July,” Cashmore said, “with a view to arranging some friendlies in August and the league starting on the traditional first Saturday in September.

“Cammy Kerr is staying on as first team coach, and numbers at training have increased. We’ve got a good bunch of under-18s coming through to the senior squad.

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“I’m quietly optimistic that after the number problems we’ve had over the last 10 years, we may be starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel.”

Helensburgh haven’t played a game since a 24-15 defeat away to Paisley on February 29, 2020 – while the last chance the Ardencaple faithful had to cheer on the Greens on their home turf was a month before then, in an 11-8 loss to Wigtownshire.

It’s thought that the new season will see clubs pick up, where they are able to, at the level they were at when the pandemic brought all organised team sport across the country to a shuddering halt nearly 15 months ago – though some clubs may be granted dispensation to step down a level depending on the impact the pandemic has had on player numbers.

“In terms of success or failure on the pitch for the coming season,” Cashmore continued, “I think that will depend to a large extent on how other clubs have fared in retaining players and attracting new players through the pandemic.

“Some, I’m sure, will have done as well as, or better, than we have at Helensburgh, but I’m also sure others won’t have done quite so well.

“Some of the younger players coming into the senior squad might find it tough against some teams at this level, but I’m hopeful they’re going to help turn things round for us.

“Having said that, we’re always eager to see more new recruits – come along to Ardencaple at 7pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, bring your boots, introduce yourself and you’ll be made more than welcome.”

Scottish Rugby plans to publish the new season’s fixture list some time this week.