SCOTLAND will play Australia at Murrayfield next season in addition to the already confirmed home Test against South Africa as the first leg of a regular series of annual matches against two of the Southern Hemisphere nations.
The pre-Christmas internationals form part of the Scottish Rugby Union's strategy to expose Scottish players to regular competition at the highest level.
Details of the Wallaby Test, to be played on November 22 - the match against South Africa is on December 6 - were announced by SRU president Fred McLeod at Murrayfield last night at the annual dinner of the Scottish Rugby Writers' Club which was also addressed by the Leicester coaching director, Bob Dwyer who masterminded Australia's 1991 World Cup triumph.
''If we want to be the best then we have to play the best, and keep on playing them every year.
''Only by doing so can we really judge our place in world rugby and have a realistic chance of going to the World Cup in 1999 - and winning for Scotland,'' said McLeod.
The president also promised a summer review of the manner in which information is disseminated to member clubs and how clubs make their views known to the union.
McLeod also revealed that the SRU is considering seeking accreditation from a government-sanctioned standards operation which would examine Murrayfield mechanisms, procedures, and systems.
''The SRU has introduced the most radical changes to the governance of the game for a century. Whilst we want to give the new structure time to settle down, we also want to get it right from the start and integrate it with the SRU's own existing systems and procedures.
''As part of that process, we are considering whether the SRU should achieve accreditation under ISO 9001, to have an external agency, working to government-set guidelines and standards, and look at each aspect of our operations.
''The SRU is obliging clubs, under the club accreditation scheme, to produce a business plan. It is only right that we should do so also, and publish it. It is also right that we should consider seeking quality accreditation to ensure that clubs receive an ever-improving service,'' said McLeod.
On the face of it, this would seem to go some way towards satisfying the call - led by assistant national coach David Johnston - for an independent review of the SRU operation. However, governance would not fall within the standards authority's remit.
McLeod added: ''As part of a continuing process of scrutiny, the new members of the general committee and executive board have it in their remit to look hard at the structure of governance and, if they see fit, make further recommendations for change.''
The president also defended the SRU decision not to send a side to the Commonwealth Games seven-a-side tournament in Kuala Lumpur next year.
''The games will take place in September at a most important and congested part of our domestic season.
''We could not have participated with our strongest side without compromising our participation in Europe. Had we gone, it would have been with a greatly weakened side which would not be good for Scottish rugby and would devalue both the Games and the honour of pulling on a Scottish jersey,'' he said.
The Hugh Young Memorial Trophy, awarded by the SRWC to the individual who has contributed most to Scottish rugby on a seasonal basis, went to the Caledonia Reds captain Dave McIvor.
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