Fierce neighbours battling it out to revive past glories

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The former Northampton scrum-half has helped take Richmond from the outer reaches of the English game at level nine back to National Division Three South.

Shadowing Richmond all the way since suffering the same fall from grace, the Scots have also reached Three South. But now the Richmond Athletic Ground residents have fallen out.

The defection of Taylor to become the Scots' director of rugby gives this match an extra edge and also highlights the different routes the clubs are taking.

When professional rugby started in England in 1995, Richmond and London Scottish both headed into administration four years later. All that was left were the amateur sections of each club.

Today, Richmond have reverted to finding jobs in the City for anyone who would like to join the first-team squad.

In contrast, the Scots have a £500,000 wage bill and are funding a three-year plan aimed at taking them to the brink of the Premiership with the help of a £500,000 three-year sponsorship deal with a Saudi Arabian company.

Neighbours London Welsh, after years of treading water in National Division One, have this season opted to go fully professional with a playing budget close to £1million because they believe the Premiership is about to be split into two sections of eight and want to be part of this new future.

Their Old Deer Park home would be swapped for a possible ground share with Brentford at their proposed £30m stadium the other side of the Thames.

It means that here, in one small corner of Richmond, there are three rugby clubs who highlight the dilemma facing every ambitious outfit in English rugby: do you stick with your present existence, or try to join the big boys?
Richmond do not intend to match financially their neighbours or their tenants but have 1,000 adults and children paying playing subs.

Chairman, David Corben said: "We were very displeased when Brett left, having just renewed his contract. We are the Scots' landlords and it's not a good time to upset us.

"But we have four Oxbridge blues in the first team squad and another four coming at Christmas to enjoy top class rugby for guys who want a career. We have 40 people helping to find jobs for players. Just about everybody who has come in has found a decent job."

However, Kenny Logan, the former Scotland and Wasps wing and now board member at the Scots, said: "Brett is ambitious, has played for Scotland B and wants to be a professional coach.

"We offered him the job and as a result, I am sure there will be an edge to this match, but in professional sport, coaches do move around a lot.

"I can see what Richmond are doing, but we have our own three-year strategy. There are other clubs doing the same in our league."

The Welsh have been so successful at attracting talent from "home" that the Welsh Rugby Union has voiced concerns.

Peter Thomas, the London Welsh chief executive, said: "We have spent a number of years languishing in National One with a part-time set-up and last December we decided we didn't want to go backwards. We want to be involved in the Premiership.

"I believe the two-tier plan will come in next year and if it happens we have the funding in place.

"We have spoken to Brentford about their plans for a stadium and the location would be ideal."

RICHMOND
The National Division Three South club rely on finding new players jobs in the City and believe in a Corinthian attitude, although there will be a four-figure financial reward if 75 per cent of all matches are won and a player appears in 75 per cent of those games.

LONDON SCOTTISH
Also in National Division Three South, they are now semi-professional and have recruited heavily, bringing in ex-Scotland lock Ian Fullerton, Quins captain Paul Volley and former England Sevens captain Simon Amor to join a squad with a £500,000 wage bill this season.

LONDON WELSH
The National Divsion One side have a full-time professional squad with a £1m wage bill for the first time this season featuring former Dragons outside-half Aled Thomas, ex-Ospreys lock Mike Powell, England wing Paul Sampson and former Scarlets back-rower Jonathan Mills.