THE internal strife dogging the Scottish game escalated further yesterday as the former internationals Andy Irvine and John Jeffrey both severed their links with the Scottish Rugby Union.

Irvine had been chairman of the SRU's International Game Board since February, while Jeffrey was a Scotland selector and district representative.

Irvine was clearly unhappy that his views on the way forward for the game north of the border have not been taken on board by the SRU. The former Scotland full-back was asked to address an emergency meeting of the Union's general committee on Wednesday night after which the unpopular executive board chairman and former team manager Duncan Paterson confirmed he would be leaving "at an appropriate time".

The behind-the-scenes power struggle at Murrayfield has intensified recently amid falling attendances at all levels of the game in Scotland.

The Wales captain Robert Howley will be out for at least a month because he needs surgery on the knee he injured playing in the international against Argentina last Saturday. Howley should be back well in time for Wales's Five Nations opener at Murrayfield against Scotland next February.