I've written about this before, and there's no doubt I'll write about it again. I don't have the answer. But I do have some answers.  

 How do we make clubland great again? 

 I'm going to make a bold statement here, that many will disagree with. I don't think the professional game needs the club game, and I don't think clubs should put a lot of stock in using 'they need us' in the discussion/argument/case. More of that later. 

This might feel like doom and gloom, but stay with me, I hope there's a happy ending. Let's start with what I don't know. Some of this applies to the women's and the men's game. Some of it doesn't. It applies to clubs. 

Bruce Aitchison gave his views as part of our Fixing Scottish Rugby seriesBruce Aitchison gave his views as part of our Fixing Scottish Rugby series (Image: Newsquest)

I don't know what the best league structure is to help clubs fulfil fixtures and find meaningful games.

I'm not sure there is one system that is the best for all clubs. From the north of Caledonia, to the South of Dumfries and Galloway, from Shetland to Skye, and even over the border to Berwick, each club is unique, their wants and desires varied and resources stretched in different directions.  

 The current big issue appears to be national or regional, and when should the 'split' happen? I don't know the answer to either question. Some will flourish no matter what, for others, it's a tightrope. 

Bruce AitchisonBruce Aitchison (Image: Supplied)

I get frequent messages from clubs asking if I can help find players, especially front row, to avoid games being called off and punishments issued.

The number of clubs posting statements to say, 'the future is bleak' is a worry, and even the number of  games that now makes up a season for some teams is pretty poor. How can you get better if you don't play?

I bet the answer from Orkney RFC will differ from Broughton RFC. In Penicuik's first season in 1924, they played 22 games. In 2024, they played 14. What's happened in 100 years?! 

I haven't been (properly) involved in the club game for a few seasons. But when I visit, I hardly know any of the players on the pitch, it's more likely I knew their dad.

But I still know all the committee folk. Dedicated volunteers keeping the game going, making sure rugby still happens. They are getting older, but they are still there, religiously. For some, it's like oxygen. 

Of course, this is a huge generalisation, but it worries me. Many experienced players aren't hanging around, for too many reasons to explore here, 'it's a young person's game'. And the volunteer pipeline is pretty dry, and only getting older. Many of them deserve medals. 

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Many social factors are in play, it's not Scottish Rugby's fault that working life has changed, the physical dangers are now more known, schools don't have the energy or enthusiasm for the game, the rise of technology, more 'minority' activities are available or facilities are expensive.

Could they do more? Of course, but they are a governing body, they have plenty going on. And I'm not a political animal. I want to talk about what we can do.

Bruce Aitchison during his coaching daysBruce Aitchison during his coaching days (Image: Bruce Aitchison)

Recently, it was shown how good club rugby is for the economy. It's also good for mental and emotional, as well as, obviously, physical, health. It can give purpose  

I have a few ideas. Hopefully some, one or all can help clubs. Some are more farfetched than others, some cost money, some time and effort, and others are just doing things a bit differently.  

Make your club a community club

Every club claims it, but not all live it. Have an open day, get into the school with fliers and offers (invite the headteacher to the club), have social events, organise lunches, attract local sponsors - but give them something. Don't just take their money.

Go and visit, get pics for social media, invite them to a training session in preseason when the weather is nice, offer them 6N tickets... look after them. Do a litter pick, clear the snow, have a kid's fun day, offer paired reading at the primary school, sing carols in the retirement home and support a local charity.

Everyone must be welcome at your end-of-season dinner and events. Be inclusive

The fixture list should have weekends that can't be touched

International weekends should allow for tours and social events. 1st XV games seldom generate the bar takings of a touring team or old boy game or 'Tartan Touch' type inclusive event.

More fun, more people in the club, more pennies in the till and the chance to 'reach a wider market'. I've never seen a rugby club that doesn't love fancy dress!  

Invite Scottish Rugby and/or Edinburgh/Glasgow to your club.

Show them the work you are doing and the impact you have. Run a supporters bus to a game, take the kids and have a great day out. 

Embrace local rivals

Play them in meaningful fixtures. If you are 'leagues' above, play them with your 2s or 3s, the result doesn't matter. Mix the teams. Have a laugh. Look after each other. Have a dinner or BBQ that night. Do it home and away. Have karaoke.  

Make games happen

If you don't have a prop, play uncontested scrums and have a game. It hurts when I hear 30+ people don't get to play, purely because the front row are on holiday. Routine is needed, as soon as there is a sniff of a free Saturday, plans are made. 

Be creative with training

Make it on a night that is cheaper, available, inside, share the cost of an artificial pitch with another club, train together, have semi-opposed sessions, get the coaches working together, share the love! Are you better having one session a week that everyone comes to?  

Have a 10s tournament instead of a 7s

It means the props get to play in the nice weather too. 

Get the players involved in organising things.

The players at Linlithgow RFC organised their first 7s and beer festival, it was awesome! They even had sunshine. These are amazing opportunities for the players to develop skills and confidence and provide a great service to the community. Being a community club is crucial. 

Winning the league is great. Promotion is amazing. Relegation is tough. But, in the big scheme of rugby life, what matters is the belonging people feel. It's only now, after many seasons, I've realised that.

Players will move on to have a shot at a higher level. Let them go. Give them roots, then give them wings. Make them welcome whenever they wish to return and let them know, you're proud of them. 

The professional game doesn't need clubs. Well, not many. It needs people to buy tickets. We've now got a generation of supporters who've never been in a rugby club, but they go to the Hive or Scotstoun for every game, and/or have a Scotland season pass.

Players will come from overseas, or through private schools or the academy structure into the pro game. Clubs might still ignite the love and passion for the game, but seldom does it prepare a player for that level. Accept it, celebrate it if it happens, but it shouldn't be how your success is measured. 

Read more from our Fixing Scottish rugby series:

 If your development officer is returning players year on year, creating events to engage the community and some filter into the senior club, great. Get them to wrote a column in the local paper. Share stories on your social media of the work they are doing and the impact it is having to make the world a better place. 

The club should offer people the opportunity to play because they love it, they feel happy and it gives them chance to belong to something.

It's more than game. Clubland is a very special place.