One of Scotland’s most promising young rugby talents has been snatched up by a French top 14 club, raising further doubts about the cash-strapped Scottish professional teams’ ability to compete at the top level.
Mark Bennett, the 18-year-old Ayr centre who was in Glasgow’s development programme and made his professional debut for the Warriors last week against Leinster, has turned down an offer from his home club to join the academy of Top 14 champions Clermont Auvergne.
Bennett impressed in club rugby, and particularly for Scotland under-20s this year, where he came to the notice of several top clubs in France and England.
Clermont Auvergne’s Scottish team manager Neil McIlroy invited the youngster to a trial in France two weeks ago and terms were offered.
It is a worrying development for rugby in Scotland, where the policy of not increasing investment in the two professional teams means that Edinburgh and Glasgow are struggling to match the pay offers from bigger-budget outfits for top players.
Chief executive Gordon McKie has justified this policy by stating that more expensive players will move on to allow young players to come through, and Bennett may have been a contender at Glasgow to fill the slot vacated by Scotland international Max Evans off to another Top 14 club in Castres this summer.
However, Clermont Auvergne’s move shows that richer clubs are actively scouting young Scottish players and it appears the Scottish teams do not have the resources to compete for them.
Bennett, a product of the Cumnock club, came through the Glasgow district and Scottish Rugby pathway programme.
He played most of his rugby in Premier One for Ayr this season, helping them to their Scottish Cup victory at the end of last month.DebtBennett said, “I owe a lot to the coaches who have helped me throughout my early career in Scotland as part of the development programme I have been part of.
“It was a great feeling to make my professional debut with my local club, and I would have been happy to stay in Glasgow, but the opportunity to join Clermont is one I cannot turn down.”
Warriors head coach Sean Lineen said, “Mark has been one of the standout players to have come through our elite development programme, led by Iain Monaghan, this season and his talent has therefore attracted admirers from a number of clubs.
“I’m disappointed not to have Mark in my squad for next season, but I do wish him the very best.”
He added, “We have a fantastic group of young Scottish players continuing to come through the elite development programme and I look forward to seeing more of them make the step up to the first team in the future.”
Lineen has already lost internationals Evans and Richie Vernon this season and at the end of next season faces a huge decision when Scotland’s new star Richie Gray comes to the end of his current contract.
The giant mop-haired lock is only 21 but made a huge impact in his first Six Nations and is rapidly becoming the face of the game in this country.
He could command a premium price for his next contract, with clubs in France and England known to be interested.
Head coach Andy Robinson has pledged that his main aim after this year’s World Cup is to secure Gray’s presence in Scottish domestic rugby, but unless outside backing can be found or a sizeable increase in investment in the pro teams released by McKie, then this would be a tall order.