Rugby Union: Hirini highlights the overseas debate

Heriot's FP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Glasgow High / Kelvinside. . . . . . . . . . . . .21

FUEL was added to a fierce debate concerning the influence overseas players are having on Scottish domestic rugby when Steve Hirini, a 24-year-old Maori, kicked seven penalties from nine attempts to defeat Heriot's at Goldenacre.

With restrictions now rigidly enforced in other home unions, Antipodeans are heading for Scotland where two 'foreigners' per team are still permitted. In addition, any player claiming Scottish ancestry is regarded as assimilated even though Bill Hogg, the SRU secretary, has admitted no checks are made.

This has given rise to fears that Scottish grandparents might be 'invented' for players in order that clubs might increase their overseas quota in a desperate attempt to ease relegation troubles. Despite Hogg dismissing the notion that an unscrupulous club might cheat, a tightening of league rules appears imminent.

Hirini, however, will still have a role in what is shaping up as the first serious title challenge by a Glasgow-based club for two decades. Significantly, GHK's first league win at Heriot's owed much to a pack in which Alan Watt, capped four times, at last looked a quality prop and Kenny Wilson provided outstanding cover for Shade Munro, the injured international, at the line-out.

The Heriot's coach, John Foster, said: 'They played a percentage game very effectively.' Heriot's will appreciate the dangers attached to setting great store by imports. They included the Kiwi Craig Humphries at flanker before seeing him play and to accommodate him moved Graham Dall to No 8.

The loss of Dall's pace to the breakdown was a major factor in Heriot's continually going offside and playing into the hands of the show-stopper now known as 'The Great Hirini'.

Heriot's FP: Penalties Glasgow 2; Drop goal Glasgow. Glasgow High / Kelvinside: Penalties Hirini 7.

Heriot's FP: H Murray; H Gilmour, A McRobbie, D Stoddart, R Adam; C Glasgow, D Fowler; M Livingstone, K Milne, S Paul (capt), C Robertson, P Young, S Elliot, G Dall, C Humphries.

Glasgow High / Kelvinside: H Bassi; G Hawkes, A Glasgow, S Hirini, P Manning; G Breckenridge, C Little; A Watt, G Peterson, G McIlwham, K Wilson, D Mellor, F Wallace, C Brown, W Malcolm (capt).

Referee: E Murray (Greenock Wands).